OBITUARY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 March 1939, Page 6

OBITUARY

v MRS J. J. CHAPMAN. By the death of Mrs J.,J. Chapman, at New Plymouth, on Sunday last, at the age of 80 years, Masterton loses another of its few remaining early pioneer personages who were definitely associated with its infancy of settlement. The late Mrs Chapman, whose husband predeceased her a year ago, was the youngest daughter of the late Mr “Chris” Bennington of this town. Her loss is particularly mourned by her five sons and six daughters, besides numerous grandchildren and a great-grandchild as well. Before settling in Tongaporutu (Taranaka) and later in retirement at New Plymouth, the late Mr and Mrs Chapman were residents of Woodville for a number of years. The death of Mrs- Chapman ends the long association, with Masterton. history, of the original Bennington family, who arrived here in the early ’fifties. Its breadwinner (as the result of a bushfelling fatality) was the second of its earliest inhabitants to be buried in its old cemetery plot, in 1858, whilst the eldest son of the family (left to assume chief responsibility in his stead) was accidentally drowned in crossing the Waingawa River a decade later. The very few remaining pioneer residents of our town who remember the two occasions mentioned, will recall the genial disposition of the late Mrs J. J. Chapman and her musical ability in particular in those faroff days.

MR H. W. DILLON. The death occurred in the Masterton Hospital yesterday of Mr Herbert William Dillon, of Tinui, at the age of 64 years. ■ The late Mr Dillon had been in indifferent health for some time past and entered hospital about eight weeks ago. Mr Dillon came to the Wairarapa when he was abput two years of age and had resided in the Tinui district ever since. For the greater part of his life he was employed on the station of Mr H. B. Maunsell and he also did shearing and general,farm work in other parts of the district. He was a member of the Pioneer Court of the Ancient Order of Foresters. He was a single man and is survived by a brother, Mr T Dillon, also of Tinui. The funeral will take place tomorrow, leaving the Church of the Good Shepherd, Tinui, for the Tinui Cemetery, following the conclusion of a service commencing at 2.30 p.m.