OBITUARY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 February 1940, Page 6

OBITUARY

MR DAVID HENRY SPEEDY. The death occurred in Masterton this morning of Mr David Henry Speedy, a well-known and highlyrespected resident of the East Coast district. The late Mi- Speedy, who was 76 years of age. had been in ill health for some time past.

Mr Speedy, who was born at Herbertville. was a son of Mr and Mrs Graham Speedy. His father was a member of the Speedy' family which settled in the Hutt Valley in the early days and later took up land in the Cape Turnagain district in the sixties and his mother was a daughter ol Mi' John Groves, one of the first settlers on the East Coast. Mr Speedy came to "Flag Creek," Tinui, in 1884 and with his brother, the late Mr Albert Speedy, farmed that property for many years. Later "Flag Creek" was divided between the two brothers. During his residence in the Tinui district. Mr Speedy' took a keen interest in public affairs and for many years was a member of the Castlepoint County Council. He was also a member of the Tinui School Committee and of the former Whakataki-Tinui Rifle Club. Mr Speedy' was one of the oldest members of the Tinui Foresters' Lodge, having joined in 1887. He was treasurer of the lodge for thirty years, from 1903 to 1933. He was a Justice of the Peace and took a keen interest in sport, especially in shooting. Mr Speedy was held in high respect throughout the district. He was a man of sterling character and his word was his bond. He was the holder of a Royal Humane Society certificate for rescuing several bathers from the surf at Castlepoint. He was twice married, each time to a daughter of the late Mr John Wingate, and besides a widow, is survived by three sons, Messrs D. H., R. G. and A. J. Speedy, all of Tinui. and two daughters. Mrs W. B. Hull (Whareama) and Miss M. Speedy' (Masterton). One son and one daughter predeceased him. There arc eight grandchildren. The sympathy of a wide circle of friends will be extended to the bereaved relatives -in their loss. The funeral will take place tomorrow. A service will bo held at 11.45 a.m. at the residence, 23 Worksop Road, and the interment will take place at the Tinui Cemetery, the funeral being due to arrive there at 1.15 p.m. Members of the Tinui Foresters’ Lodge are requested to attend the funeral. mr l. r. batkin. Another link' with the pioneering days of New Zealand was severed in the death in Masterton yesterday morning of Mr Lewis Richmond. Batkin. The late Mr Batkin, who was approaching his eighty-fifth year, was born in Belblock. in 1855 and was the second son of the late Mrs and Mr T. C. Batkin (until his retirement controller of the Audit Department, Wellington). Leading a varied life in his younger clays, on completion of his education at the Wellington Grammar School, Mr Batkin decided on an outdoor life, and joined Captain Monk on a 4.1 ton schooner, the "Mabel Jane," which reached the Auckland Islands after a second attempt and landed a cargo of sheep. Transferring to a schooner “Awarua,” owned, by a chemist of Invercargill, which landed the first cargo of timber for house building in the Auckland Isles, Mr Batkin was later employed in sealing and whaling, returning to Wellington in 1879. Ho then joined the Armed Constabulary and was present, at the assault on Pariihaka, Taranaki, during the troubles with the Maoris. Owing to ill-health Mr Batkin resigned from the constabulary' and joined the Post and Telegraph Department. Wellington. in .1882, whore he remained until his retirement in .1913. During his period of service in the P. and T. he was stationed at Wanganui, Woodville and Pahiatua. When the post office at Taueru was made a telegraph office. Mi’ Batkin was among those who put the line through. In those clays, the area now partly' occupied by the Loan and Mercantile Company's buildings was in standing bush. Mr Batkin enjoyed excellent health until the last eighteen months. He took a keen interest in cycling and sports, and was a popular member of the committee of the Kiatore Harrier Club, being a life member. He served for a period of seven years with the Wanganui Volunteer Fire Brigade. The late Mr Batkin is survived by a widow, who is tiie .youngest (laughter of the late Captain Joseph Thompson, their marriage having taken place in 1835. The family consisted of two sems r.ncl four daughters, the sons being the late Mr C. R. Batkin and Mr Charles Thomas Batkin, of Sydney. The daughters are Mesdames W. Foss, P. Doyle and F. Nelson (Masterton), and the late Mrs W. Common (Pahiatua). There are 25 grandchildren and It) .greatgrandchildren. The funeral will take place tomorrow, leaving the late residence. 6 Olive Street, after a service commencing at 3 p.m.. for the Masterton Cemetery.