OBITUARY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 August 1938, Page 6

OBITUARY

MR W. G. BEARD. The death occurred this morning of Mr William Gascoyne Beard, a wellknown resident of Masterton, where he had lived for nearly sixty years. The late Mi Beard, who was born in Shropshire, England, on May 5, 1850, came to New Zealand in the ship Excelsior, arriving in Wellington in September, 1868, on the day when news was received of MajoKVon Tempsky’s death in a disturbance with the Maoris. Shortly after arriving in New Zealand the militia was called out and Mr Beard was drilling for about six months until the excitement subsided. Mr Beard was admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court in May, 1874. The same month he commenced practice in Greytown, where he remained until February, 1881, when he moved to Masterton. He first passed through Masterton in 1872. Although he took a great interest in politics and the welfare of the town he only once stood for any public office, when he offered his services as a trustee of the Trust Lands Trust, but was defeated. In his younger days he was a keen cricketer and tennis player and enjoyed shooting and fishing. In 1913 Mr Beard suffered a serious illness. He was incapacitated from his business for a lengthy period and after his recovery was unable to apply himself to his practice as formerly. For a period of about three years he was in partnership with the late Mr H. C. Robinson. In 1918 Mr Beard sold out to the late Mr A. C. Major. Mr Beard is survived by three daughters and two sons, Mesdames L. Moore, C. Ramsden and H. H. Mawley, of Masterton, and Messrs G. Beard (Longbush) and C. Beard (Masterton). His wife died on July 17, 1937. The funeral will be strictly private and a request is made that there should be no flowers. .