OBITUARY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2615, 24 September 1909, Page 2

OBITUARY.

THE LATE MR. WALTER FISHER. (From Our Motu Correspondent.) The Motu district has just had its ranks of sturdy early settlers broken by. death for the first time. The remains of Mr. Walter Fisher were laid in the Motu cemetery on Saturday afternoon. The whole of the residents of the district 'assembled en masse to pay a last tribute of respect to the memory of their departed neighbor and friend. A large number of wreaths were sent as tokens of sympathy, conspicuous being one sent from Motu friends. Mrs. Fisher received -a number of letters and telegrams of condolence from her distant friends. Rev. E. W. Walker, of Ormond, conducted impressive burial services.

Mr. Fisher was the youngest son of Moses Fisher, Coed-y-orane, Kerry, County Montgomeryshire! and was born at Castlemere, llockdays on 30th January, 1843. Ho was educated at Maclinlletli National School, and afterwards at Chelsea College. In 1864 he sailed for Australia, joining one of his brothers in South Australia, whore lie spent three years in farming pursuits. His brother returned to England and took up the position of Bank manager at Wigan. Mr. Fisher then joined tho mounted constabulary, with headquarters at Adelaide, serving in the force for six years. He formed one of a party of thirty under John McKinley, who penetrated far into the Northern Territory, being about nine months on the expedition. In 1873 Mr. Fisher returned to England and started farming at the old home at Coed-y-brane. In" 1879 lie married Miss Price Lewis, which lady survives him. In November, 1893,' Mr. and Mrs. Fislier and family—three sons and one daughter — landed in Auckland, and came on to Gisborne, taking u- their temporary residence at Ormond. He purchased his now well-known property “Woodlands” at Motu from Mr. Witters, and in July, 1894, removed with his family, to Motu to tackle that trying and exhaustive task of breaking in the forest. Added to the trials of hush life was the difficulty of education the growing family and to overcome this Mr. Fisher, along with Messrs. Hansen aud Richardson with other small help bore the cost of building the first Motu Public School, and also annuallv. making up between them any deficiency in the teacher’s salary. Mr. Fisher was a member of the first Motu school committee, being its secretary for a number of years, and also an active member of the Motu Branch N.Z.F.U. since its inception. In 1900 Mr. Fisher was honored by being elected a Justice ot tiie Peace, which position lie filled with great credit. In 1907 he again returned to lus native land, but after spending a few months there was glad to return to the land of his adoption. During the early years in the Motu religious services were few and far between, and tho early training received in- the old land liad plenty *of scope for activity in its new sphere. Mr. Fisher filled the role of local missioner at the request of Canon Fox, and although both Mr. and Mrs. Fislier were staunch Baptists they were delighted to see and entertained with 'kindness all preachers of the Gospel who visited Motu, their house being literally the recognised resting-place ot the local hack-woods preacher. Mr Fisher also acted as local treasurer for the Presbyterian charge for a number of veais. His onlv daughter is married to Mr. Tims. _ Tverman. a prominent settler of Motu, and his three sons are grown up and latterly acquired a large block of bush country at Wlntikau, fifteen miles from Motu. Laterly Mr. Fisher had not enjoyed robust health, suffering much from indigestion, which trouble taking the form of gastritis, terminated after three days or acute suffering a varied life of much usefulness to the country. To Mrs. Fisher and family the cordial Sympatliy of all the settlers in this district is warmly extended.