Michael McMahon & Ellen Tobin

Michael McMahon and Ellen Tobin were my great great great grandparents.  They were married on 7 April 1863 at Dunedin.

Their daughter, my great great grandmother, Margaret Smith's death certificate records that Michael was a miner.  

Margaret McMahon (1868 - 25 January 1930) married Joseph Smith in 1887.

In 1866 Michael was advertising the dissolution of his publican partnership with Richard Strangman in the Waimea township - Strangman was to carry on in business.  

It's then possible that around 1870 Michael and family removed to Thames and the Coromandel to mine up there.  There is reference to a licence being given to a Michael McMahon (and to a James McMahon - brother?) in the 9 November 1869 edition of the Daily Southern Cross.  Within the same group as Michael was a man called Robert Tobin, who may be a relative of Ellen's.  

18/02/2017 UPDATE:
A lady, Anne McLellan, contacted me a few years ago about the Tobin family.  I have lost her email but would like to contact her.  This article details the story of one of her relatives - Michael Tobin.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503343&objectid=11622734

Vannini Family

Ann "Annie" McMahon (1866 - 5 July 1925) married Antonio Damiano Vannini (1856 - May 1925) in 1884.  Antonio was a musician, composer and piano, dancing and singing teacher.  Antonio had arrived in New Zealand on the New Zealand Shipping Company's ship Wairoa, having left London for New Zealand on 19 July 1878, and finally arrived in New Zealand on 17 October 1878.  In August 1906, it was reported that Antonio Vannini, "the well known Blenheim musician" had composed a waltz called "The Niagra" to be entered in a Music competition. The Vannini children attended St Mary's convent school in Blenheim.  They were:

1. Edith Corti Vannini (18 August 1886, Mosgiel, Otago - 19 October 1926) married Frank Grint (1874 - 1947) in  1909. 

2. Mary Annie "Mona" Corti Vannini (1890 - 1951) married Thomas William Thwaites (1876 - 1939) on 9 February 1914 at St Patrick's Church, Kilbirnie. They had at least one child - a son born on 2 November 1919.

3. Luigi Patrick Vannini (21 August 1893, Alfred Street, Blenheim - 1960) married Muriel Eugenie Smith (13 March 1898 - 1976) in  1927.  Luigi served in WWI, in 1915 being wounded and admitted to a Canadian hospital in Taplow, Buckinghamshire.  Despite his injuries, he returned safely to NZ in 1919.

4. Roy Corti Vannini (13 May 1897, Charles Street, Blenheim - 1980). Roy was a private, serving in WWI.  In October 1917, his mother received word that he had been admitted to hospital in France, severely wounded, to the knee and face following fighting at Flanders.

5. Doreen Mandreina Alice Vannini (6 August 1901 - 1991) married Herbert Arthur Johns (13 September 1904 - 1975) in 1927.

Antonio Vannini was probably a son of Cosmo Damiano Vannini from his first marriage.

Cosmo Damiano Vannini (1836 - 22 June 1890) first seems to have either married or had relationships with Mary Ann Maria Ellis and Maria Tarry and had the following children either in England or in Australia:

Antonio Damiano Vannini  (1856 - May 1925)
Frederick Vannini (6 July 1864 - March 1865)
Serafina/Sarafina Vannini (1862 - 14 March 1951)

Damiano then married Margaret Moloney (daughter of Mr John Moloney, Fedemore, County Limerick, Ireland)(1849 - 1924) in 1874 in Australia and they had at least two daughters.  Following his death, Margaret married Wilhelm Braun in 1891.  The Vannini family lived at Moray Place in Dunedin at the time Damiano died.  Damiano obviously had a publican's licence - just a few weeks before his death (on 5 June 1890), the Waverley Hotel in Moray Place had been transferred from an Emma Williamson to Damiano Vannini.  Previously the family seem to have lived in Mosgiel.  Margaret's sister Nora M. Moloney had also married a publican on 13 February 1893 - Patrick Joseph Kavanagh of the Rising Sun Hotel in Eastern Road, South Melbourne.  The Waverley Hotel became known as Vannini's after Damiano's death and Margaret Braun was the licensee for some years following his death. 

The Vannini children from the marriage between Damiano and Margaret Moloney likely included:

1. Adelina Hartley Vannini (1880 - 1929) married John McGrath (eldest son of Patrick McGrath of Bluff) on 2 February 1905 at St Joseph's Cathedral.  Married by Rev. Fr. Cleary.  
   1.1 Adelina Maura McGrath (1905)
   1.2 Margherita Antonietta McGrath (1908)
   1.3 Joan Carita McGrath (9 July 1910 - 1998)
2. Antonietta Vannini (14 February 1881 - 1973) married John Major (fourth son of James Major of Melbourne) on 6 February 1902 at Dunedin
   2.1 Marietta Major (4 December 1905 - 1991)
   2.3 John Noel Major (1911)

Serafina/Sarafina Vannini (1862, Ballarat, Australia - 14 March 1951, Dunedin New Zealand) may have been another sibling of Cosmo and Antonio Vannini.  She married a plumber, Robert McDonald Short (1857 - 1885), in 1881 but he died just four years later aged only 28.
1. Flora McDonald Short (10 December 1884 - 8 May 1972)
Following Robert's death Serafina married Peter Carlyle (1864 - 15 January 1927) on 13 January 1891 at Castle Street in Dunedin.  They were married by Rev. Sutherland.  They had the following children:
2. Daisy Carlyle (2 November 1891 - 1977) married Stanley Alexander Park (1889 - 1948) in 1917. 
3. Robert Aitken Carlyle (3 December 1893 - 1962) married Alice Rubina Money (16 October 1893 - 1977) in 1917 and following his divorce from her, married Euphemia Mitchell in 1922.
4. Myra Jane Carlyle (3 August 1897, Sydney, Australia - 1980, Dunedin, NZ).  Died unmarried.
5. William Gordon Carlyle (18 January 1900, Brisbane, Australia - 6 April 1952) married May Dorothea Moynahan (1900 - 21 August 2000).  It's probable that William came to New Zealand with his family after WWI, around 1918.  

Families related by marriage to John Waters' family

Eleanor Catherine Waters (2 December 1886 - 1972) married George Phillip Osborne in 1928.  George's family were as follows:

William Osborne and his wife Elizabeth Ellen Osborne (1842 - 1923) had the following children:
1. Jane Elizabeth Osborne (1875 - 1948) married Samuel McKibbin (1860 - 1943) in 1895
   1.1 Samuel McKibbin (1898)
   1.2 Thomas McKibbin (1899 - 1967)
   1.3 Bertha McKibbin (22 August 1901 - 1982) married George Arthur Hardwick (18 December 1896 - 1978) in 1925
   1.4 Hugh McKibbin (23 September 1903 - 1974)
   1.5 Mary McKibbin (13 October 1904 - 1976) married Donald Semple (1901 - 1971) in 1925
   1.6 George McKibbin (1906 - 1909) died aged just three years
   1.7 Hazel McKibbin (7 October 1907 - 1974) married Robert Alfred Andrews (1905 - 1975) in 1928
   1.8 Nellie McKibbin (1909) 
   1.9 Jane Elizabeth McKibbin (1910)
   1.10 John McKibbin (11 September 1911 - 1978)
2. James Osborne (1878)
3. George Phillip Osborne (1881 - 1942) married Eleanor Catherine Waters (2 December 1886 - 1972) in 1928
4. Alice Lavinia Osborne (1883 - 1961)
5. Thomas Osborne (1883)
6. John Charles Osborne (1885 - 1948) married Rhoda Angelina McVicar (widow of Daniel Hugh McVicar, nee Howard) (1873 - 1940) in 1906.  Rhoda had one daughter from her first marriage, Jennie 

Janet Fordyce Waters (1889 - 1942) married Alan Charles Ferguson in 1913.  Alan's family were as follows:

Charles Ferguson and his wife Agnes Eliza Ferguson (1846 - 1940) had the following children:
   1. Ella Agnes Gertrude Ferguson (1880 - 1966) married Victor Lionel Powell (1877 - 1957) on 26 April 1905 at the Church of the Nativity in Blenheim.
   2. Alan Charles Ferguson (17 June 1888 - 1981) married Janet Fordyce Waters (1889 - 1942) in 1913.

Marion Stanley Waters (1893 - 1953) married Leonard Foster McDonald in 1915.  Leonard's family were as follows:

Alexander McDonald married Susan Matilda Kayes in 1890.  Prior to her marriage, Susan had had a daughter: 
1. Bertha Annie Kayes (1889 - 1967).  Bertha married Charles Gillard in 1911.  Charles seems to have worked as a taxi cab driver during the 1930s.    

Together, Alexander and Susan had the following children:
2. Alexander Henry McDonald (1890 - 1899) died aged just eight years.
3. Alfred Lewis McDonald (1892 - 1964) married Florence Rachel Morris (1893 - 1956) in 1915.
4. Leonard Foster McDonald (1 May 1894 - 1974) married Marion Stanley Waters (1893 - 1953) in 1915.
5. Percy McDonald (1895 - 1971) married Myrtle Irene Durney (24 December 1903 - 1988) in 1925
6. George William McDonald (1897 - 1965) married Minnie Drucella Granger (1905) in 1925

Jessie Tutchen Waters (1903 - 22 July 1936) married Arthur Sharpe Lyford (18 April 1903 - 1975) in 1927.  Arthur's family were as follows:

Aldophus William Lyford (1857 - 1912) married Alice Anne Sharpe (1868 - 1956) in 1890.  They had the following children:
1. Florence Alice Lyford (5 May 1891 - 1980) married Henry Mountain Patterson (1886 - 1938) in 1919.  The following account of their wedding appeared in the 31 March edition of the Evening Post:

The wedding was solemnised in the Presbyterian Church, Kilbirnie, recently of Miss Florence Alice Lyford, Rata road, Hataitai, and Lieutenant Henry Mountain Patterson, of Christchurch, when the Rev. Hugh Beggs officiated. Lieutenant Patterson left New Zealand with the 5th Reinforcements, took part in operations on Gallipoli and later in France, and returned last Christmas after three and a half years' service. The bride was given away by her mother, and wore a charming gown of cream gabardine, a pale pink georgette blouse, and a black hat with touches of pink, while her shower bouquet was of white asters, pink jessamine, and maidenhair fern. The bridesmaid, Miss Ruth Creed*, wore a pale pink georgette frock, and black hat relieved with pink, and carried a bouquet of pale pink asters and maidenhair fern. Tho best man was Lieutenant A. Stunnel, who saw similar active service as the bridegroom, and also returned last Christmas Day. The church was prettily decorated by girl friends of the bride. The bride wore a travelling costume of grey cloth, and a black hat relieved with saxe blue. Lieutenant and Mrs. Patterson left for Auckland, where they intend making their future home.

2. Frank Adolphus Lyford (1896 - 1963) married Dorothy Louise Sinclair (1899 - 1932) in 1923
3. Arthur Sharpe Lyford (18 April 1903 - 1975) married Jessie Tutchen Waters in 1927

Frederick Ernest Waters (1905 - 1965) married Ruby Beulah Phyllis Nicholson in 1929.  Ruby's family were as follows:

Lewis Nicholson (1877 - 1944) married Martha Lunmer (1872 - 1930) in 1901.  They had the following children:
1. Ruby Beulah Phyllis Nicholson (7 September 1902 - 1996) married Frederick Ernest Waters (1905 - 1965)
2. Trevor Lewis Nicholson (6 March 1905 - 2004) 

*Ruth Creed was Florence Alice Lyford's bridesmaid.  Here's what I can find about her family:

William Richard Creed (1852 - 1928) married Marion Hill Hamilton (1857 - 1896) in 1876.  Poor Marion had twelve children in nineteen years and then died, aged just 39 years.  They had the following children:
1. Helen Fanny Constant Creed (1876) married Herbert John Penwell in 1900.
2. Alexander Amos Creed (1878 - 1910)
3. Phoebe Marion Sophy Creed (1879) married William Valentine Mockett in 1905
4. William Hubert Percival Creed (1882 - 1944)
5. Albert George Creed (1882 - 1959)
6. Thomas Richard Creed (1884 - 1918)
7. Beatrice Ethel Creed (1886) married Lawrence Stove in 1907
8. Amy Bell Creed (1887)
9. Rose Ivy Creed (1889) married George James Powis in 1909
10. Annie Edith Creed (1891 - 1910).  Died aged just 19 years.
11. Claude Hamilton Creed (1893 - 1963)
12. Ruth Agnes Creed (1895 - 1957).  She never married.

ANZAC Day post - Alex Latto 1897 - 1 November 1917

John Alexander Anderson Latto was the fourth child and third son of my Great Great Grandfather David Latto and his second wife, Annie Valentine Latto.  Accordingly, he was an uncle to my grandfather Pat Nidd.  

Alex Latto was born in 1897, in Australia, served with the 110th Battalion in the Australian Infantry in WWI and was killed in action at Passchendaele, Belgium on 1 November 1917, aged just 20.

RIP

For more information on Alex's family see here.  

ANZAC Day post - Letter from James Hislop WWII

Last year, I was lucky enough to receive a call from a lady who subsequently sent me the following letter written by Jim Hislop, a second cousin of my grandfather Pat Nidd's on his maternal grandmother's side.  The "Tom", to whom this letter was written to was the lady's father, who passed away in 2006 and who had kept the letter in a drawer until his death.  He gave it to his daughter as she was interested in genealogy and he hoped that she might one day find one of Jim's relatives.  

Before the war Jim Hislop was living in Ponsonby, Auckland and for some time was dating Tom's sister Mary, who later died (hers is the death referred to in the letter).  Apparently Jim, Tom, Mary went around in a large group to dances and the movies prior to the war.  The 'mum' referred to in the letter is Tom and Mary's mother, and the Heather is Tom's eldest daughter - the lady who sent me the letter's eldest sister.  

James Hislop was killed in action on 23 October 1942 at the age of 23.  

38065 Hislop J.L. 
WWC Coy

Thursday 11th June 1942

Dear Tom, 

Received your letter about a fortnight ago and I must say the news of Mary's death came to me as a terrible shock.  I just couldn't believe it at first and had to read the letter over several times just to make sure I had got it straight especially the circumstances under which she passed away.

I must say it is all very sad.  It must have cut Mum up very much.  I cabled her immediately I got your letter so I hope she has received it by this time.  the words that I was able to select my message of sympathy from were very limited so I hope it did justice to sentiments and deep sorrow I felt on the occasion.  I am afraid that this sounds like a lot of bull- Tom but I am afraid that I am not too good at this sort of thing and cannot express my feelings well in my own lingo as I would like to. 

Well Tom, we are not in a very much more inhabitable climate in fact as we are well up in the hills, just the bare 7,000 feet up, it is very much like a mild Auckland summer here at present.  I suppose you know by now that we are in Syria and believe me it is quite a change from the stinking heat, sand and flies of Egypt, although we still have the flies and another pest in the form of mosquitos although we are not troubled with  them much up here but I believe they are pretty plentiful down on the flat.  We are pretty well protected from them thought with mosquito nets for our beds and ointment and powders to put on our bare limbs to stop them from biting and at night when we are on guard we have nets which go right over our heads and shoulders and also gauntlets for our hands so it is a very slim chance  that we will get malaria especially if we do as we are told although I must admit that there are very few who do.

I have just this moment received a patriotic parcel from NZ and of all places it came from little old Ponsonby and packed by a Mrs Rowe of Sarsfield St.  I think this is quite a good effort as usually as they are today they come from pats of NZ and this is the first time I have ever got one from Pons. although I got one from Grey Lynn Happiness Club for Christmas.  It just shows how small the world is.  

Well Tom, I must sign off now hopoing you will remember me to all the two families both yours and the (indecipherable).  By the way the beer here is crook at present as the Aussie supply which we used to get is now cut out and so we have only the local brands left and believe you me it is certainly crook.  

Tom they had a raid on Sydney and (indecipherable) the other day.  They certainly are getting cheeky now.  I can see you chaps at home will have to knock them back very smartly so as we can get some decent beer over there.  Tell Jock to take a note of that and see what he can do about it also tell Jock that I am a Tommy Gunner and have been one for the past year including all through the stink and anything he want to know in that time just let me know.

Well Tom I must sign off now and do some work.  Feeling like a ball of muscle with nowhere to bounce.

Yours till Niagra Falls

Jim

PS Suppose Heather is getting a big girl now.  

RIP

Cenotaph Database
More information about Jim's family is here on this blog.  

Ernest Mansfield Burr and his family

Ernest Mansfield Burr was the  husband of Teresa Hynes - a Tobin descendant who I came across.  

Ernie was the son of John Cleets Crooks Burr (1852 - 1915) and Sarah Elizabeth Burr (nee McLaren) (1861 - 1947) who had married in 1882.  They had the following children:

1. Maria Sarah Burr (1883 - 1968) married Albert Fensom (1873 - 1843) in 1902
    1.1 Sylvia Isabel Fensom (7 February 1909 - 1999) married George Robert Hewison (4 January 1908 - 1989) in 1929

2. Jane Ann Burr (1885 - 1965) married Edward Alfred Fensom (1875 - 1961) in 1905
    2.1 Stella Victoria Fensom (18 December 1905 - 1988) married Edney Norman Cochrane (3 September 1903 - 1978) in 1926
    2.2 Vera Dorothy Fensom (3 October 1907 - 1987) married Percy Alfred Gregory Sutton (1902 - 1964) in 1928
    2.3 John Joseph Fensom (9 May 1910 - 1995)
    2.4 William Cleets Fensom (23 October 1916 - 1983)

3. Charles William Burr (1888 - 1963) married Eva Myers (1898 - 1964) in 1920

4. Dorah Agnes Burr (1893 - 1965) married Patrick Joseph Kelly in 1916

5. Cleets William Burr (1891 - 1941) Never married.

6. John Wesley Burr (1896) married Ada Elizabeth May Palmer (1899 - 1962) in 1921

7. Fanny Elizabeth Burr (8 June 1898 - 1977) married George Bromley Hill in 1916

8. Walter Arnold Burr (28 January 1900 - 1976) Never married.

9. Ernest Mansfield Burr (1901 - 8 November 1930) married Teresa Hynes in 1923

Ernie was last seen on 8 November 1930.  His body has never been found.  Ernie was the father of three young children at the time of his disappearance.



Thanks to Papers Past there is more here and here is a photo of poor Ernie Burr:

The extent people went to, to ensure a namesake...

I came across the Slater family and Francis James Slater, whose son Francis Daniel Philip Slater married a Tobin descendant.  However Francis Jnr was not the first Francis Jnr - apparently people weren't necessarily superstitious if a namesake child died - they'd just go ahead and name the next child that name, and the next one, and....

Francis James Slater appears to have arrived in New Zealand on the ship Zealandia in 1858 with his family.  Francis was only a year old at the time.  Travelling with him was his family - all from Leicester and listed as:

Daniel Slater, Carpenter, aged 32 (1826 - 1894)
Susannah Slater, Millwright, aged 32 (1826)
Joseph Daniel Slater aged 7 (1851 - 1925)
Eva Slater aged 5 (1853)
Mary Susannah Slater aged 3 (1855 - 1937) married Charles Henry Winny (1852 - 1924) in 1881
Francis Slater aged 1 1/4 (1857)

The family arrived in the port of Canterbury on 21 September 1858

Francis James Slater married Margaret Calder (born 1861) in 1878.  They had the following children:

1. Francis Daniel Slater (1884 - 1884) died aged just 11 weeks

2. Norah Slater (23 October 1885 - 1973)

3. Hilda Slater (1888 - 1895) died aged just six years

4. Francis Roy Slater (1890 - 1890) died aged just one month

Margaret died aged 30 in 1891 and so Francis, left at that point with two young daughters, married reasonably quickly - to Deliah Flaherty in 1893.   They seem to have lived in Otago.  They had the following children including a third, and finally a stronger, namesake for Francis Slater:

5. Francis Daniel Philip Slater (1896 - 1962) married Catherine Emma Tobin (1903 - 1948) in 1925 - served in WWI

6. Annie Madeline Slater (1897) married William John Barry in 1920

7. Reginald Derbyshire Slater (25 June 1899 - 1980)

8. Stanley George Slater (17 January 1901 - 1992) married Sarah Ann Elizabeth Bacon (29 December 1898 - 1981) in 1920

9. Mary Susannah Slater (1902)

10. Winifred Dehlia Slater (28 April 1904 - 1990) married Thomas McDowell in 1927

11. Morgan Pierpoint Slater (1909 - 1962)

Incidentally, Francis Snr's brother Joseph Daniel Slater married Amelia Manning (1853 - 1939) in 1875 and had the following children:

1. Elsie Derbyshire Slater (1881 - 1952) married Douglas George Jackson (1877 - 1946) in 1903.  They had a son Alexander Douglas Jackson (18 April 1904 - 1982)

2. Christopher Stanley Slater (1890 - 1964).  Information I've received from a relative of Stanley, suggests that he was in fact adopted.  When I look back at his birth registration, it's clear that this is probably exactly right, as his birth in 1890 wasn't registered until 1926 (later registrations are often indicative of adoption).  Stanley married Ellen "Nellie" Adamson (1890 - 1965) in 1913.  Stanley's birth parents were apparently James Frederick Curtis and Ellen Alice Neale. 



**Thanks to Elwyn Goldbury for updated information.

Patrick McMahon (13 August 1832 - 12 August 1907)

Patrick McMahon is sometimes referred to in articles at the time as "Peter McMahon."  He was born on 13 August 1832 near Castle Blayney, in County Monaghan in the North of Ireland.  He appears to have travelled to Australia as a young man and have worked in the gold fields.  Around 1857 Patrick came to New Zealand, and on 21 January 1865 he married Mary Blaymires.  The couple were married by Rev. Seauzau at Picton.  Patrick and Mary lived in the Kenepuru Sounds, and their home was known as "Taradale."   Towards the end of their lives, they moved into Picton.

Mary McMahon, was the daughter of John and Hannah (nee Hobson) Blaymires.  She was born around 1844 in Bradford, England.  Mary had come out to NZ with her parents, two sisters, Uncle, Aunt and four cousins in April 1859.  

Patrick and Mary had ten children: 

1. Annie McMahon (1866 - 5 July 1925) married 1884 Antonio Damiano Vannini
2. Edith Ellen McMahon (1867 - June 1947) married December 1900 Herbert Longford Miller Severne (1858 - 1901).   
3. Peter John McMahon (1868 - 20 June 1895) married 1890 Margaret O'Sullivan (1868 - 1953)
4. Mary Theresa "Theresa" McMahon (1871 - October 1950).  Played the piano.
5. Joseph Hobson McMahon (1874 - ?) 
6. John McMahon (1875 - ?) married 1906 Eva Mills (1874 - ?)  
7. Alice Nora McMahon (1877 - November 1960).  
8. Florence May McMahon (1882 - 1960) married 1921 Edward Russ Winkler (1892 - 1968)
9. Wilfred Patrick McMahon (1884 - 1954)
10. Gilbert Francis McMahon (1887 - March 1952) married 1916 Louisa Millicent Henderson (1893 - 1969). 

Patrick died on 12 August 1907 and was buried in the Tuamarina Cemetery.  Mary died 22 years later, in June 1929, and is buried with Patrick at Tuamarina Cemetery.  Several obituaries for Patrick McMahon appeared in the Marlborough Express:

"Mr Patrick McMahon, who died at his residence, Auckland Street, on Monday, had only lately come to reside with his family in Picton.  He was one of the oldest residents in Kenepuru, and in days gone by obtained the Government bonus for finding gold.  He was greatly respected for his upright and  honourable character, and the manner in which he brought up his family in the wilds of the Sound, which has been an object-lesson to city residents.  His death will be keenly felt by his old friends and neighbours in the Sounds, as well as by tourists and travellers, who always found a hearty welcome awaiting them at the McMahon homestead.  Mr McMahon removed to Picton on account of his failing health, and his death was not unexpected."

And:

"The death of Mr Patrick McMahon, of Taradale, which took place recently, deserves something more than a passing notice.  To the older settlers of Havelock and the Sounds and to many of the rising generation he was an interesting personality.  He was justly regarded as the pioneer of Pelorus Sound.  The early European settlement of that district will hereafter prove an interesting item to the country's history and the writer may perhaps some day, as the result of much information gained from Mr McMahon and other early settlers now rapidly passing away, be able to supply it.  

It is nearly half a century since Mr McMahon settled upon his property at Taradale, and he was, in point of fact, the first European settler in the Kenepuru arm of the Pelorus Sound.  At Eli there settled about the same time Captain Harris, now of Picton, and at Hopai, the late Mr Bradshaw.  To go back to these days is a "far cry," and there are few now about who can recall them.  

And what was Mr McMahon's career?  He was a man distinguished for his energy and perseverance, and above all for the honesty and integrity of his character.  Contending against many difficulties, he made for himself, hewing it from the water's edge, what is now certainly one of the finest and most valuable properties in the Sounds.  He was a kind genial companion, possessing a keen sense of humour, which rendered even strangers always at ease in his company.  In all he said and did there was a ring of genuine sincerity which impressed everyone with whom he came in contact.  He has passed away at a ripe old age, and it is useful lives like his that have gone far to make New Zealand a great country."