OBITUARY

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10713, 21 January 1913, Page 5

OBITUARY

MR CHARLES HARR IS. It is with sincere regret that wo record the death cf Mr Charles Harri-s, oho of the pioneer settlors oi' tlu" Lower Valley, which occurred at Martiuborough on Sunday. The L'it-e Mr Charles Harris was horn in AVollington in February. 1813. shortly alter tlio arrival of his parents in the Dominion. When he came to man's estate, lie engaged in sawinilling with his lather at Maungaroa and Pakorjtalii t ami then tried his fortune at the diggings in Gabriel's Gully and the Thames. Subsequently he engaged in a carrying business with his brother. Mr Walter Harris, of Opaki, between Ma«terton and Wellington, before tin construction of tlie railway. After giving up this, he acquired Wantwood station, afterwards ptircha.sing Hautotara and Birchhill. TliCvse lie carried on with success until recently when ill-health obliged him to .sell out and retire from active business. Since then he* has lived in 3lartinhorough. The late Mr Harris was rather of a retiring nature, and did not take much part in public .if e. with the exception of i.serving fer some years as a member of the, Fe.ithcrston Road Board. He was al.n a vice-president and steward of the Lower Valley Jockey Club when n existence. On the first election I k the Town Board in Mn.rtinboroutrh 1«> was elected at the top of the- ivll. l,ul could not take his seat at tb > tab'■>. owing to pressure of bi:sr>.>.,s. .Mr Harris had many dealings with the native race, bv whom be wn< held in great esteem, and probably no man the district had more influence with the Maoris. The doeea.sed wa<s widely known and highly respected vhrowihout the Wellington and Wairarnoa districts, and will be inucPi regretted by a. large circle of relatives a-.T friends.