OBITUARY.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 August 1916, Page 4

OBITUARY.

A. C. FOOKES, AETAT 77. Another of the fast diminishing of old a'.ul prominent residents of Xewi Plymouth passed the Croat Divide yea-* loniay morning, about 7 o'clock, in tha person of Sir, Albeit Cracroft Fookes,; at the age of 77 years. The deceased gentleman, who was born in Kent in 1539, was educated in Oxfordshire, and after leaving school was for seven years with a banking firm in London, In 1861! he came out to Otago in the ship Black Eagle, and after a short experience of the goldlields lie came north. The Maori war was in progress at the time, and on his arrival at Wellington he joined the Defence Force as a trooper. He ?oon won promotion, and was transferred to the Taranaki Military Settlers, serving with tip rank of lieutenant through the east and west coast campaigns from ISiiit to ISOS, and being awarded the Xew Zealand war medal. For his services he received a grant of land near Waverley, upon which he mado a home, after having married a daughter of the late Mr. Thomas Hirst. At tha time of the Titokowaru outbreak in 1808. the country was in such a disturbed state that Mr. Fookes, fearing fov tho safety of his wii'e and young child, left the farm and established himself in business at Wayerley as a storekeeper. This business he carried on for several years, and in 1878 lie came to Xew Plymouth, where he acquired a large block of land, upon which he successfully established the Midhirst Special Settlement. la ISSI he coinnii.'iieed business .in Devon. Street as a land broker, and successfully;, carried this on for many years. Tho late Mr. Fookes took a keen interest in local and general politics. He was the second Mayor of New Plymouth, in, 187S (the late Mr. Arthur Standish having been the first, in IS7O and 1877), and subsequently he served two terms as a Borough Councillor. He also did useful service for several years on tho School Committee and High School Board of Governors. Some years ago lie gave ur business, and since then he lived in retirement. He leaves a widivr and a, family of six sous and five daughters mourn their loss. The sons are Messrs; 11. E. Fookes ■ (Post and Telegraph Department), T. C. Fookes (Stratford), Dr E. F. Fookes (Xew Plymouth), A. E. Fookes and W. Fookea (Auckland), and George Fookes (Xew Plymouth), and tho daughters are Mrs. C.Nichol (Ashburton), Mrs. Kelsey (Waikato), Mrs. P. B. Fitzheibert (Auckland), and the Misses M. and G. Fookes (Xew Plymouth). For some months Mr. Fookes had been in comparatively feeble health, but ho was in town on Friday last and was as jovial and cheery as usual. On Sunday afternoon he went for a short walk, and retired to bed in the evening as well as usual. Shortly before midnight ho was seized with n paralytic stroke, and became unconscious. From this condition he never recovered, and he passed away peacefully. The deceased gentleman would have, had he lived, celebrated his golden wedding in May next.