The first born child and elder son of Thomas James and Margaret Holland nee O'Shaughnessy, James came all the way from Limerick in Ireland when just 20 years of age to make a life for himself and his family of which there are now numerous descendants. He prospered and encouraged his siblings who joined him down under, namely Johanna, Margaret, Bridget and Patrick, all children of his father's second marriage since Margaret died soon after the birth of James' brother, Thomas, who later made America his home.

OBITUARY.

MR JAMES HOLLAND, SENIOR.

WELL-KNOWN GOREITE PASSES.

The news yesterday of the death of Mr James Holland, senior, caused a shock to the people of Gore. Deceased, who had appeared to be in his usual good health and spirits, passed away quite unexpectedly, early in the afternoon, from heart failure.

The name of the late Mr Holland will always be bound up with the history of this town which he did so much to extend and develop, and in which the greater part of his interests were centered at the time of his demise.

Deceased was born in Askeaton, County Limerick, Ireland, 63 years ago, and came to New Zealand when 20 years of age, landing at Bluff. Mr Holland was one of those sturdy pioneers who owed their prosperity to their own efforts, battling against adversity in a new land. He came to the colony with a few pence, abundant energy, and a will to progress, and in doing so as to assist in the development as far as possible in the land of his adoption.

That he succeeded in doing so there can be no doubt and Gore to-day has to thank Mr Holland for many of the fine buildings it now possesses.

After working in Invercargill for a period, deceased went to Dipton, where he speedily made a name for himself as a reliable contractor. He also conducted a hotel in the latter place, afterwards coming to Gore, where he finally settled, engaging in hotelkeeping and contracting. He was for several years licensee of the Commercial Hotel, East Gore and subsequently purchased the Gore Hotel property in Medway Street. Farming, brick-making, quarrying, dredging all claimed portion of his time and energies. The Gore Traffic Bridge, which is now being extensively added to, was erected by the late Mr Holland in 1895-6, and this structure has stood not only the test of time but has also held its place during high floods in the Mataura River when thousands of tons of water swept against the pillars. About the year 1895, Deceased purchased the old Railway Hotel in Main Street and later erected a fine block of buildings and an arcade, between Mersey and Main Streets, this for some years being a prominent feature of the town. These structures were demolished by fire, which proved Mr Holland's great enemy in various building activities. Later he erected a fine block of buildings facing Main and Mersey Streets but the Main Street section for these buildings was gutted by fire two years since. Not disheartened by these setbacks, the owner set to work and renovated and improved the premises throughout, this work having been completed about a year ago. Mr Holland also owned considerable other property in the town, notably several buildings facing lower Medway Street between Main Street and the bridge, the site of the old Gore Hotel, the first in the town. In October 1884, deceased married Miss Mary Murphy, a native of Ireland, who was then living at Gore and he is survived by his widow and a family of four sons and three daughters namely, Messrs Thomas J. (Christchurch), James T., Patrick and John Holland (Gore), Mrs H. Windle and Misses Margaret and Eileen Holland (Gore). The late Mr Holland was a staunch supporter of the Gore Catholic Church and always took a keen interest in anything that was calculated to advance the interests of the district. A host of friends in this town and the surrounding district will regret his passing. In his earlier days he was an athlete of note and took a prominent part in Hibernian and other sports gatherings. The burial service will take place at the Gore Cemetery at 2.30 p.m. tomorrow.