James Kerr

Obituary

Death has removed another of our pioneer settlers, Mr James Kerr, of Waimea West, who died on Sunday, at the age of eighty-one years. Deceased was the eldest son of the late Mr John Kerr reference to whom is thus made in the "Jubilee History of Nelson" which was published by this office in 1892— "It is certainly worthy of record in the annals of the place (Nelson) that on the 25th May, 1842, the first plough was put into the ground by Mr John Kerr. Such an event was of course celebrated with due ceremony; critical eyes followed him as he turned up the furrow of the acre in Hardy-street adjoining the site of the Union Bank, and it was almost universally, declared 'that the ground turned up beautifully.' Mr Kerr, with his family of strong boys, was started by the New Zealand Company to cultivate, a farm of fern land, on the borders of a bush in the Waimea; but although ultimately very successful the first crops; as on all other fern lands, were a complete failure."

Deceased, although he did not take so prominent a part in public affairs as his late brother, Mr John Kerr, ex-M.H.R., nevertheless took a keen interest in all social and colonial events. He had, a capital memory, and could tell well the story of the old times, and the trials, hardships, and dogged perseverance of the pioneer settlers. James Kerr was noted for his uprightness of character, his staunchness as a friend, and his warm heartedness. particularly toward those on whom fortune had not smiled. He was one of those whom it was a pleasure to know, and his kind and genial disposition endeared him to all. The funeral takes place a half past two on Wednesday afternoon, at Waimea West.
Source: Colonist, Volume XLV, Issue 10377, 8 April 1902, Page 2 [https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TC19020408.2.8].