Obituary.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 31, 31 July 1902, Page 19

Obituary.

MR. MICHAEL KETT, INVERCAROILL

An old and highly e-iteemeJ colonist, in the person of Mr Michael Kett, passed aw,iy at his residence, the Hibernian Hotel, Invercargill, on July 24. Mr Ke't. who had reached the patriarchal age of 815 year* was born at Kilmicthoma-', Tipperary, and at the a2e of 22 left his native land for Australia, arriving in Sydney in 1811. After spending some six or seven years in New South Wales he left for California, attracted by the gold diggings. In ISSO he was bjck again in Australia, and took part in the principal rushe--. including the eel' brated I achlan diggings. On the discovery of gold in New Zea'and he decided to try his luck here, and, with others, came across in the early sixties, landing at Lyttelto-i, and tramping it from Dumdin to the Arrow. With three mates, in a short time he got 40lh8 weight of gold. Subsequently he pmchaied Frenchmen's Point claim, in partnership with Mr F.-iraud, which, after m»my ups and downs, prov< d a very profitable investment When aflvancing years mane it imj.o sibie to follow the hard life of a miner, h^ enterid the hotelkecping bu«ines-<. purchasing the Royal Hotel, Milton, where he resided for home 20 ye^rs. afterwards removing to Mataura, wht re he remained two yeai«, then purchasing the Royal Hotel. Invercargill, about two yeais ago Only a few months back Mr Kett bought the valuable property known as the llibiriiian Hotel, the business being condue'ed by his nephew, Mr T. Kett. Mr Kett, who had never married, leaves only one relative in New Zealand, Mr T. Kitt. who has been his manager for several years past. The deceased \\a« extrrme'y well known m all parts of Otago aid Southland, and was highly rcspe.'tel for his sterling honesty and larg-e-h'-arttcneps. Hi- w-is a p.Urioti : Ii i-bman and a srreat lover of h>s native land. Mr K< tt was \ jiradH-al and consistent Cafholii 1 , and wan a most gui e*o> 8 giter to every good cause. The rem,nn<; were brought io Mi, ton iur nitciineni, and the funeral, which took plac •on -atuiday. was attain! t j u t>y n.ourners from all p.irts of the Brii'-c district, many re-idrrrs of Dunediu being aho present. The Rev. Father Howard officiated at th« graveside — 1( L.P.