OBITUARY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 317, 17 June 1915, Page 3

OBITUARY.

MR. S. W. NICHOLLS.

(Contributes.)

The death occuri cd at Mok'au op lionday, .June 7th, of Mr Samuel \yil!iurd Nirholl.s, an old identity, at' the age of 80 years. Horn in iiromsgrovc, l-'ngland. and leaving home at the age of l(i years, Mr Nii'holls followed up' the gold diggings in dill'eient parts of America, Australia and New Zealand, being present ..l mo»t of the principal rushes. He came to I\icw Zealand in the early 50' a find was at Gabriel's Gully rush and the -diggings on the | West Coast. He took uji hotelkeeping ' about 1870, opening the Half-Way .house.between, Charlston and EiH-fton, and eventually c»me to' Wiitara about 1883 as proprietor of tha Bridge Hotel.' 1 Mr-iNicholls entered into public life and became-a very'valued member of the school committee, Raleigh Town Board and Waitara Harbo* Board,-and for some time he occupied the position of chairman of the lattel body. Feeling attached to the district he later on itiade his home in Mokan, where he installed himself as proprietor of the Mokau boarding house, where he remained to the day of his death. Mr. Nieholls found the same call at Mokau at he. did ■at Waitßra to do what he could for the public benefit, and he was largely instrumental in the formation of the River Trust. He held the position of chairman of the Harbor Board, school committee, and River Trust, and was also a 'Justice of the Peace up till lately, when his failing health compelled him to relinquish some of the positions, but he still took an active part in affairs up till the time of his death. Always being a man who was looked up to and respected by all who knew him, Mr. Nieholls will be -greatly, mourned by a large circle-of friends. -■*