Death of Castlereagh Man - (William Rainey 1854 - 10/11/192 Badnam's Crossing Clandeboyne NZ, burial Temuka Cemetery, South Canterbury NZ )
Passed away in New Zealand
The New Zealand mail just to hand brings news of the death of Mr. William Rainey, the eldest son of the late Mr. William Rainey of Braniel Castlereagh on 10th November (1922). He was a Conservative in politics, and when quite a young manredered valuable assistance in having the then Lord Castlereagh returned to the Imperial Parliament in the early eighties. He was also one of the young Castlereagh men who under the leadership of the late Dr. James Irwin, of Ballyhackammore, proceeded to Saint Field, where a Land League meeting was to have been held and this was cancelled immediately the leaders of the movement learned that the Doctors and his followers had arrived.
Mr. Rainey was a man of fine physique, was a member of the Castlereagh True Blues L.O.L.
He emigrated to New Zealand some 45 years ago (about 1877) and took up farming a few miles from Temuka. He was a great lover of good horses, he soon became as popular in Temuka as he was in his native country. After a few years in New Zealand he married a Miss Shanks, a native of Graigentlet, a few miles from Hollywood Co. Down. And had five of a family two girls and three boys. When the Great War broke out two of his sons joined up with the New Zealand Contingent, one being killled in France.
The funeral of Mr. Rainey was one of the largest seen in Temuka for years people travelled many miles to pay their last tribute of respect to one who was held in the greatest esteem by all who knew him. The greatest sympathy was extended to his family.
Deceased was the only surviving Brother of Mr. David Rainey, who is well known in Belfast and the Castlereagh district and the brother-in-law to Mr. Hugh Wallace Knock
David Rainey, brother of William, previously mentioned, lived at 61 Island Street in 1911
