DEATH OF A PIONEER.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8501, 2 August 1907, Page 7

DEATH OF A PIONEER.

!CHE ;LATE MR JAMES FULLER, OF BLENHEIM. ; Erorn the Marlborough Press we lake following appreciative and """"interesting remarks in regard to the late Mr James Fuller, senr., father >of Mr John Fuller, of Masterton: — The sudden death of Mr James .Fuller, senr., has removed from our midst one of New Zealand's most sturdy pioneers—one of those who iaced the rough life of this country in the early days with a courage and determination which was characteristic of the people who set about the .colossal task of carving out homes for themselves in the wilderness. Mr Fuller was born in County iGlaEq, Ireland, in 1831, his father being head of a storekeeping business. The family left for Canada, and took up land in the great Dominion. Some years later his father died, and Mr Fuller assumed the management of the farm on behalf of iiis mother, his experience in farming extending over a period of fourteen years. 'At this time, he received an offer from an uncle in India —manager .of a bank in Bombay—to join him in a mercantile business in Melbourne, and he sailed for Australia without delay. A \ear later he was joined by his mother and two sisters {Mrs Esson,, .of Picton, and Mrs Cook, of Blenheim.) For various reasons, the family decided to return to Canada, but hearing a great deal about New Zealand and the Maoris, a trip to the colony was first arranged. •The travellers arrived at Nelson in 2855. In those days, the ships which visited' the colony were few and far between. The principal ones were the Stormbird, Zingari, and White Swan. After waiting in vain for a 1 vessel to take them back again, they finally decided to remain in New Zealand, and stayed in the City of Sunshine—though it was by no means a city then —for ten months. On November 13th, 1855, Mr Fullei, his mother and two sisters came on to Picton. What the district was then can be imagined when we stite that the ladies were the first Europeans of their sex who had ever set foot in it. A Mrs Bell arrived some time afterwards, but she did not remain long; the loneliness and wildness of the place frightened her. It was two or three years before Mrs Memory, an old lady, joined the lady members of the Fuller family in their solitude. Mr Fuller and his mother commenced business in , a store in Wellingt. n Street, and he afterwards undertook contracting work. Then he joined the firm of Messrs Kummer and Co., and when they sold out to Messrs J. A. R. Greensill and Co. he retained the position of trust which lb- he occupied with such crecit to himself and to the firm. He was connected with Mr Greensill for upwards of thirty years, and only left him when he felt he was rest from his labours and quietly enjoy iife for the remainder of his days. In 1862, Mr Fuller married Miss McCormick —a sister of Mrs D. Lloyd, and Messrs D. and H. McCormick, the well-known Marlborough settlers. There are nine grown-up sons and daughters to njourn the loss of a good and kind father:—Messrs John (Masterton), James, William, Hugh, (Seddon) and Donald Fuller (Wellington), aid Misses Mary, Lily, Violet, and Flora Fuller. The deceased gentleman never took an active part in politics, not j being at all enamoured with the | strife and turmoil of public life. ! In his younger days, he took great i interest in volunteering, and at one time was regarded as one of the bestshots in Marlborough. For many years 'he acted as one of the Directors of the Marlborough Permanent Building Society and his business training and foresight materially assisted in making the institution the successful one it is to-day. He was of a genial disposition, and was respected and loved by all who knew him. Mr Fuller was a member of tha Church of England, and, until recent years, was one of the mainstays of Holy Trinity Church. At various time 3, he filled the position of church-warden, vestryman, and auditor, and ever displayed an enthusfasm in the work allotted to him. With him, it was a labour of love, and, as such, will surely have its reward. The funeral cortege was a large and representative one. A large number of people assembled at the gravesid2, where the last words were spoken, a>-d one cc the most loved and respected of our citizens was laid to his eternal rest. For Children's Hacking Cough at night Woods' Great Peppermint Cuie. Is 6d