Hugh Monahan

OBITUARY. HUGH MONAHAN. Another old and highly respected resident of Temuka, Mr Hugh Monahan, passed away at an early hour on Thursday morning, after an illness of several months. He was born at Kilbiirnie, Scotland, i n 1351, and in , his youth worked at several indusI tries, including that of flax. At the j ago of 27 ho married Miss Elizabeth Gibb, and almost irnmediaeely after, with his wife, left for Xew Zealand, in the sailing ship Nelson, landing at Tort. Chalmers. LUr five years he worked oil the late Captain Kitchener's property in Otago, and ho then came to Temuka to work for the Temuka Flax and Linseed Company, which had just started. He 1 made a home for himself on the ieast side of the borough., buying' a section and erecting- a house. On the I company's works closing' down he carried on rope-n»aking on his own j account for a time, and then started contracting, making a speciality of asphalt .and concrete work. He was the contractor, for the, first asphalt footpaths in the borough of Temuka, and while he was engaged in this class of work, he laid down 1') tennis courts, asphalted throb bicycle tracks (Temuka, Geratldine, and '<inia.ru Caledonian), and constructed two swimming baths (Temuka and J'airlie). Among other contracting work carried out by him was a large one for excavating and removing, clay for the Canterbury .Farmers' Co-operative Association. He was very ready in resource, and could make a success where others might, have failed. About four years ago his health gave way, and he had a vesy severe and long illness. .From this he made a partial recover}", und wis able to resume work, but was never the same man again. Aoout three months ago lie was again sewed with illness, and this in the end proved fatal. About a . • fortnight ago he rallied, but it was only tor a , short time, and he passed peacefully away early on Thursday morning, lie \v u s a total abstainer all his 1 fe, and was a foremost worker in the t'empcrauoo caiiM-. He served for ~ term, as, a member of the Temuka Borough Council, and until his health broke down, he w a s an. enthusiastic aad prominent member of the Temuka Bowling Club, frequently acting as skip. H u lea v es a . widow a ud six sons and daughters to mourn th?ir loss. Uo had four sons and four daughters, but two of his sons—W> G. and Hugh—laid down their lives in the Great War. His surviving sons are Mr. Thomas Monah a n, living a t Temuka, and Mr Alex. Monahan., livino- a t Murchison. His daughters are Mr* James and Mrs Menhaa ('lviny at Nelson), nud Misses Jean and -Jessie Monahan. The funoral took place yesterday afternoon, and was attended by many old .friends, tho bearers beinoMessrs \V. McCallum, Frederick Morris, W. J. Keys, and T. E. Shicls. '['he burial service of the Presbyterian Church . was conducted by. the Tiov. Chas. Maedonald. Some beautiful tokens of sympathy were sent bvjMV and Mrs .1. Bonuett and family, Mr and .Mrs T. Edwards, Mr and 'Mrs Tritrauce. the Tligodnbottoin family, and Miss T H i'ho(ton. Source: Temuka Leader (11 October 1919, p. 4).