825508
- TitleJoe Colless, king of Wellington Blacks, April 1913 / photographer unknown
- Call numberMIN 14
- Level of descriptionfonds
- Date
Apr 1913 - Type of material
- Reference code825508
- Issue CopyCopy print : P1/Colless, Joe, d.1919
- Physical Description1 halftone photomechanical prints - on metal
- ADMINISTRATIVE/ BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
Death of "King Toby"
A well-known and familiar figure of Wellington, in the person of Joseph Collis, was found dead in his hut at the Mission Camp yesterday morning. The deceased had not been in the best of health of late, and for some time past he had not visited the town on account of his feeble health. "Toby," as he was familiarly known, was 82 years of age, but there were some people who say he was much older than this. He was one of the aboriginal race disappearing from our midst, and in 1902 he was proclaimed king of the Aborigines of the Wellington district, and was very proud of his insignia, which consisted of a brass plate which he wore around his neck, and which bore the following inscription: "Joseph Collis, King of the Aborigines, Wellington." Joe, when he got an extra dose of tanglefoot, and was brought before the bench, was always in a great way when they threatened to take his plate away, and always promised to reform. He had been about the Wellington district for about 50 years, and in his young days was a very smart man, and often played cricket with some of the old hands. The remains were interred in the R.C. portion of the local cemetery this morning, the services at the graveside being read by the Rev. Monsignor Long. The funeral arrangements were carried out by Mr. C. J. Shakespeare.
Reference:
Copied from The Wellington Times, 7 July 1919, p.2 - Access Conditions
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