OBITUARY

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21225, 23 September 1940, Page 9

OBITUARY

MR JOSEPH MOTLEY The death has occurred in Auckland of Mr Joseph Motley, formerly a well-known figure of Te Aroha and Woodville. He was born in England in 1854 and came to New Zealand by the sailing ship Countess of Kintore in 1875 after serving for two years at Malta and Gibraltar in the 52nd Light Infantry. Mr Motley landed at Napier and joined the Armed Constabulary, serving five years in Napier and Clive. In 1880 he was transferred to Woodville to open a new police station and to act as postmaster. There he took a prominent part in the establishment of a lodge of the Manchester Unity Order of Oddfellows, and he acted as its first secretary for a number of years. He was also one of the foundation members of the Masonic Lodge Ruahine at Woodville. Mr Motley resigned from the police force after six years at Woodville and became manager of a cheese making company. Subsequently he opened a cordial factory, but in 1908 began storekeeping at Taumarunui. Later he went to Te Aroha. In 1912 he disposed of his business there and was appointed a bath attendant for the Tourist Department. After-

wards he was secretary of the Te Aroha News newspaper, retiring in 1925. He was also coroner for a number of years. For 21 years he was a councillor at Woodville and for two years was Mayor. Mr Motley is survived by four children. , There are 24 grandchildren and 40 * great-grandchildren.