The Late James Boylan, Auckland

New Zealand Tablet, 24 August 1911, Page 1651

The Late James Boylan, Auckland

The funeral of the late Mr. James T. Boylan.on July 8 was (writes a correspondent of the Auckland Herald) an incident having connection with Auckland’s history which few of Auckland’s present population can recollect. The late Mr. Boylan (who came of an old Irish family, dating back as far as the 12th century), after pursuing his studies at Trinity College, Dublin, came to Auckland in the year 1847. Shortly after arrival he was called upon to enrol in the militia force then organised, and had to take his part in common with others. In 1849 Mr. Boylan became a member of the original committee appointed to deal with the erection of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and was elected a member of the first Provincial Council, upon which Council he subsequently represented City West for many years. During his long residence in this city Mr. Boylan held many other civic positions, amoim them being those of inspector of Mmtal Hospitals, a member of the Hospital Board (of which Sir George Grey was a member at the same time), one of the Commissioners of the Albert Park, chairman of the Auckland Harbor Board in the early seventies, vice-presi-dent of the Auckland Savings Bank, inspector of abattoirs, and a member of the original committee of the

old Auckland' Mechanics’ Institute, High street, the foundation of the later Provincial Library, whose collection of books formed the nucleus of the present Free Library.

After having j watched' the town develop from a straggling harborside village, whose foreshore lay about the position occupied now by Shortland street, into the busy and prosperous Auckland of to-day, Mr. Boylan retired to private life. In 1849 he was married in New South Wales, but was predeceased by his wife some twenty years ago. The funeral was, by request, conducted privately at Symond street Catholic Cemetery on Saturday forenoon. Service was conducted in St. Benedict’s Church by Rev. Father Carran, and at its conclusion the party of relatives and old friends crossed over to the cemetery. The bearers were Messrs. John Boylan (son), W. J. and T. F. Boylan, Mr. C. J. Tunks, and Captain A. F. Tunks (nephews), and Mr, Ivan Boylan (grand-nephew). Among old friends present were Sir G. Maurice O’Rorke and Mr. Fitzroy Peacock,— R.I.P.