William Tinker, (1855-8/8/1918). "not altogether unexpected"

NIGHTCAPS NOTES.

From Our Own Correspondent 

Last Tuesday the remains of the late Mr R. Dickson were laid to rest in the Nightcaps cemetery. The different collieries closed for half a day and there was a full attendance of the members of the Miners' Union at the funeral. Mr Peaples conducted the service, and the pall-bearers, employees of the Nightcaps Coal Company, were Messrs Barclay (manager), Munn, Grant, Eunson, Adcock and Gibbon. 

Another of our citizens has passed away during the week. Mr Wm. Tinker died on Friday. His end was sudden although he had been ailing for some considerable time, and his death was not altogether unexpected. Mr Tinker and family came here from the West Coast about 25 years ago. He had an interest in a sheep run in Wairaki district for a number of years; later, he came and settled in Morley Village, taking up land which he afterwards brought under cultivation and farmed. This encouraged others to take up sections round about, the coal areas being on adjacent land and the mines handy for the miners, and now we have a village, apart from Morley, called Tinkertown. But the deceased was more widely known in his connections with the coal trade. He, along with a family of industrious and enterprising sons, worked coal areas successfully for years. The latest venture of the sons in the coal trade is to all outward appearance a veritable gold mine when the proposed Ohai railway taps the district. The late Mr Tinker's remains were interred in the Nightcaps cemetery on Sunday afternoon, Mr Peaples conducting the burial service. The cortege was unusually large, the farming community being well represented. The deceased leaves a widow and a grown-up family to mourn their loss, and for whom a large circle of friends extend their sincere sympathy in their bereavement. A memorial service was held in the Methodist Church on Sunday evening for three recently-deceased, residents, Messrs Guttery, Dickson and Tinker, the church being packed to its utmost capacity.  -Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, 13/8/1918.

Wairio Cemetery.