Hon. John Fisher

Newspapers Waikato Independent 13 January 1927 Page 4 This article

OBITUARY

HON. JOHN FISHER. A WAIKATO PIONEER. Throughout the Waikato, indeed the whole of South Auckland, there is no name better known than that of the Hon. John Fisher, who passed away peacefully at his home, Pukerimu, at about 10 o’clock this morning, in.his ninetieth year. Mr Fisher was born at Oatlands, Ayrshire, Scotland. . As a youth of nineteen, together with his parents, he sailed for New. Zealand in 1856, arriving at Auckland. Soon after arrival, Mr Fisher’s father was drowned in Auckland harbour. Mr John Fisher was engaged on a small farm at Tamaki until 1865, when he came to the Waikato. He was actively engaged in the Maori war, receiving a military medal, and, in common with other volunteers, received a military section of land at Pukerimu, where he took up residence and lived ever since. He afterwards acquired a considerable area of land in the vicinity, and converted it into the magnificent farming land of to-day. Mr Fisher has thus lived for seventy-one years continuously on the one property. During the whole of that period he and his good wife led a life that has been a model of industry and indomitable perseverance. From the wilderness he carved out a comfortable home, and converted the property into one of the. most lovely farms in the whole Dominion. Mr Fisher has played a highly important part in the progress' of the Waikato and of the Dominion. He was always to the forefront of every progressive movement, playing an active part in all the local bodies in the Cambridge district, and his sympathy and help were never wanting in any good cause. As a.successful and able farmer, and particularly as a Milking Shorthorn breeder, the name of John Fisher is known all over the Dominion. In 1914 Mr Fisher was appointed a member of the,. Legislative Council an appointment that was richly deserved, and was exceedingly popular. At the end of his seven year term, Mi Fisher declined re-appointment, on account of old age. Mr Fisher has been one of the pillars of the Cambridge Presbyterian Church, serving for fifty years as elder, and being also session clerk for about forty years.For some considerable time -past Mr Fisher was in failing health, and his peaceful end was not unexpected, There was no resident of the district more loved and esteemed than deceased. Mr Fisher was married, at Mangere, to Miss Margaret Scott, who was born at Tamaki. His wife survives him. He also leaves a grown-up family of five sons and three daughters, who are among the best-known residents of the district: Mrs H. Rhodes, Paterangi, Mrs T. Robinson, Rpto-o-rangi; Mts G. M. Watt, Cambridge; Messrs J. S., R. D., .T. W., Walter and Allan Fisher; all of Cambridge district. The funeral will take place on Saturday next at 2.30 p.m. at the Pukerimu cemetery.