OBITUARY.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 December 1920, Page 4

OBITUARY.

WILLIAM A. COLLI*,

The death look place at nine o'clock hist night of Mr. William A. Collisi,' one of New Plymouth's most respected and

•.•.acfv' -./üblic teen. Hia health had for some tune been failing, for which reason he was unable a week or two ago to accept the position of Mayor offered him by his fellow councillors on the tragic death of the Mayor (Mr. James Clarke). Only on Tuesday evening of this wetk he was the recipient of an nddrcss expressing deep appreciation of his long and valuable services to the town, as a Councillor and as acting Ma-or.

! 'J'.'he late Mr. Collis was born in Fiji I in 1553. He arrived in Auckland at an '. "i"ly age, and was educated at Wesley '■ Colicg.', The family settled in New 1'ly- • month in 1872, and William was brought | up as a photographer with Mr. Hartley j Webster.- Then lie became manager for Messrs. Williamson and Co., and com- ! ranneed business on his own account in 11875. He was elected to the Council | in ISSO, and had been a member prae- | tieally up till a week or two ago. He was chairman of the North Eg- ' mont Committee, a'member of the Nn- : tioiial Park lionnl. and took a very I active part in the .vction of the hos- | telry and making improvements generIslly to the Mountain reserve. He was I also greatly interested in the preserva- | firm of the scenery in and about New Plymouth and the Mokau, and not a little credit for what was done in this J respect in past years was due to his spirited and persistent efforts. Mr. Collis was one of the [promoters of the local Tourist land Expansion League, of which he I has been secretary for six years. He ! was a member of the Pukekura ParkBoard for many years, acting latterly as chairman. ! The late Mr. Collis was imbued with the true civic spirit, and gave to the community ungrudgingly of his time and talent. His services' on the Council were of considerable value, for he knew New Plymouth as few men knew it, and had ihe utmost confidence in its future. Tiie son of a missionary, it was but natural that he should take a keen interest in the local Wesleyan Church, for which he was a trustee.' He was chair-' man of the New Plymouth School Committee, and a very old member of the Court Waireka, A.O/F, Mr. Collis was married in 1877 to a daughter of the late Mr. W. E. King, of New Plymouth, and had four daughters and two sons. The daughters are Mrs. J. W. Ryan (Auckland), Mrs. .1. Cray (Napier), Mrs. A. C. Lawrey nml. Miss K. Collis (New Plymouth), and r!."> .son Mr. S. W. Collis (Auckland). Rifleman Douglas Collis was killed on the Somme in IMG. Mrs. Collis survives him.