St John’s Anglican Church, Te Awamutu, 1909
Malcolm Patterson and his mate had arrived at Huntly from Mercer by the 11.30 train on a June morning in 1910. They were looking for work and if they had no luck in Huntly they intended to proceed to Hamilton. But first 28-year-old Malcolm and his mate went to Mr Powell’s billiard saloon where they chatted for some time with other customers.
Suddenly Malcolm was overcome with sickness and went outside. On returning he seemed to have recovered, but Mr Powell allowed him to lie down on the settee, which Malcolm inexplicably fell off. He was not injured and lay back down again. Shortly afterwards Kupa Awa, struck by Malcolm’s strange posture, alerted Mr Powell. A hasty examination showed that Malcolm had died and this was corroborated by Constable Rock who was soon on the scene.
Malcolm, who looked strong and robust and was most respectably clad, was a married man from Fitzroy, Melbourne, and had resided in New Zealand for some four years, according to his mate.
St John’s Anglican Church, Te Awamutu, 1909
An inquest at Huntly found that after a prolonged drinking bout in Auckland, Malcolm and his mate proceeded to the Waikato in search of work and when in Huntly, Malcolm suddenly expired in the billiard saloon. Both men were perfectly sober when they went to saloon. Death was due to heart failure, accelerated by alcoholism.
Malcolm was said to have come from a highly respected family in Australia. His father was postmaster in South Melbourne, and a brother held a responsible position in the Commercial Bank. Malcolm had married Celia Brown the year before in Victoria, Australia and that same year a son had been born.
He appears to have been coming and going from New Zealand and at the time of his death had left his wife and child in Australia while he searched for employment in New Zealand. During most of the time he was in this country he associated with Jim Le Seur, hairdresser, tobacconist and billiard room proprietor, at Te Awamutu. Malcolm, a labourer, had recently had work in Te Awamutu.
On receipt of the news of their son’s untimely death Malcolm’s parents in Australia expressed a wish that no expense be spared in connection with the burial. Malcolm was conveyed to Te Awamutu by the early morning train and taken charge of by Jim Le Seur, Mr Stewart, postmaster, and Reverend Woollass, Presbyterian minister.
The funeral service was conducted by Rev Woollass, who, in a short address at the graveside, referred to the uncertainty of life. Curiously, only a few hours before Malcolm’s death, the Reverend had met him on the train, and during the course of conversation Malcolm was in his usual bright and happy mood.
The burial was carried out in accordance with his family’s wishes. It was hoped the blow to the bereaved in Melbourne would be somewhat softened by the knowledge of Malcolm being laid to rest in St John’s Anglican Cemetery, Te Awamutu, then one of the prettiest burial grounds in the country.
St John’s Anglican Church cemetery
