OBITUARY.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 June 1921, Page 4

OBITUARY.

WILLIAM LITCHFIELD NEWMAN. OLD RESIDENT OF NEW PLYMOUTH The death occurred at New Plymouth on Saturday morning of Mr. William Litchfield Newman, a well-known and respected resident of New Plymouth. He was 68 years of age. A native of the town, Mr. Newman took an active interest in various spheres, and many organisations to which he belonged benefited by his help and experience. As a former member of the Pukekura Park Board he took a keen interest in the Recreation Grounds; he was a valued steward of the Taranaki Jockey Club, and was also one of the past presidents of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce. He held the presidency of the Taranaki. Acclimatisation Society for some years, and was an active worker for this body’s aims, afterwards being elected a lite member. Mr. Newman was a trustee and vice-president of the New Plymouth Savings Bank, and a director of the Taranaki Land Building and Investment Society, and in both of these institutions his financial ability made him a valued member. Mr. Newman held the position of treasurer to the Polynesian Society, having assumed this position after becoming a member of the council when the headquarters were transferred to New Plymouth. He also rendered ready assistance to various patriotic movements during the war. In other channels the late Mr. Newman did splendid work in helping those in need of assistance, and his activities in this direction are only known to the many to whom he was a sincere friend.

Mr. Newman was born at New Plymouth in 1853. His father, Mr. J. L. Newman, came to New Plymouth from Cork in 1849. On completing his education he entered the office of Messrs. C. Brown and Co., shipping agents, where he received his earliest commercial training. About the end of 1871 or the beginning of 1872 he joined the s.s. Go Ahead, a little steamer of 90 tons purchased to trade on the coast, as purser, and in 1875 he entered the Union Steam Ship Company as purser on the s.s. Maori, afterwards serving in the same capacity on the s.s. Wakitipu, then one of the largest steamers of the Red Funnel fleet. In 1878 he was appointed the company’s manager at New Plymouth, a position he held for nearly twenty years, when he entered into business on his own account as a shipping and commission agent.

He leaves a widow, a daughter of the late Captain Hempton, who will have universal sympathy in her bereavement. Flags at the offices of the different shipping companies in New Plymouth and at the port were flown at half-mast on Saturday and yesterday as a mark of respect to the memory of the late Mr. Newman. The funeral took place yesterday morning, when there was a large following of mourners, including a representative attendance of the business community. The Ven. Archdeacon Evans officiated at the gflaVeside.