OBITUARY.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 October 1921, Page 3

OBITUARY.

MR. OLIVER OXENHAM. The late Mr. Oxenham, whose death occurred at New Plymouth on Monday, was a member of one of the pioneer families of Taranaki, his parents, Thomas and Elizabeth Oxenham (of Clawton, near Holsworthy, Devon) arriving here by the Amelia Thompson in September, 1841. The deceased was born in New Plymouth 75 years ago, and with the exception of short visits to other parts of the Dominion, had lived his whole life in this district. With his brothers he saw active service in the native troubles, joining the Mounted Corps in 1863, and participating in most of the fighting between Stony River and Opunake from 1863 to 1866, when this fine body of men, under Captain Mace, were in close and intimate contact with the 43rd Regiment and their idolised commander, Colonel Colville, an officer who fully appreciated these rough riders as bein£ ideal men for the class of guerilla warfare that finally brought the war to a close. Prior to the outbreak of hostilities in 1860, the late Mr. Oxenham was working with his father on their well-known farm at Tataraimaka. This had to be quitted in a great hurry in March of that year, allowing them time to take only bare necessities into New Plymouth. China, glass and such like was buried, as was done by nearly all the other settlers at that time, but in this case the Maoris, when burning the house and farm buildings, discovered the plant, which was smashed to fragments. After the conclusion of hostilities, together with his father he worked the Paiatere farm, on Lower Koru Road, and also the old home at Tataraimaka. Eventually he confined himself to the latter, which he sold a few years ago, and then took up his residence at Fitzroy, where he became an enthusiastic member of the Fitzroy Bowling Club, and from the greens of which the familiar face and figure of this sturdy son of Devon will be greatly missed. He married a daughter of the late Mr. J. J. Looney, of Oakura, who survives him, as also do three daughters—Mesdames H. Marfell (Westown), Lock (Hillsborough) and Thrussel (Auckland).’ One other daughter, it will be remembered, was lost on the mountain and perished from exposure. The late Mr. Oxenham is also survived by three sisters—Mesdames S. Wright (Wanganui), W. R. Greenwood (Greymouth) and VV. Dingle (Hawera). His two brothers, John and William, predeceased him. The funeral will take place to-day, leaving St. Mary’s Church at 2 p.m.