LYNDHURST TRAGEDY

DEATH OF MR W. J. DICKIE. GUNSHOT WOUND IN, HEAD. Mr William James Dickie, of Lyndhurst, ex-member of Parliament for Selwyn, was found dead yesterday m a building on his farm at Lyndhurst. Mr Dickie had not been' m good health recently, and visited a doctor «,t Methven during the week. 'Ha was last seen alive at 11. a.m. yesterday, working m his farmyard. When he did not appear at lunch, a farm hand named Albert Dent went to look for him, and found him lying dead m a nearby building, with a gunshot wound m his head and a fowling piece beside him. An inquest wil be held at 3 p.m. to-day at the dboeased's residence. The late Mr Dickie was a grandson of the late Mr James Dent, one of ; the earliest settlers m Lauriston, and was born at Cobden, near Greymouth. He entered the Bervice of Messrs Thomas and Mcßeth, a West Coast business firm, but owing to ill-health he had' to relinquish the occupation m favour of farming. He took up land at Charlton Somerton. Seven years later he sold the property, and bought the Ardagh estate, Lyndhurst, m partnership with Mr Dent. He was prominent m the local affairs of his district, and eventually represented Selwyn m the House of Representatives. In 1908 the Honl C. A. C. Hardy (Reform) gained a substantial majorty over*R;he late Mr J. Ivess. In 1911 Mr Dickie, standing m the Liberal : interest," gained 2734 votes against 2463 polled by Mr Hardy. In the 1914 election he was again successful, gaining 2888 votes, which gave him a big majority over Messrs G. Sheat (Reform) 1661 and J. W. Hamlet (Reform) 988. At the readjustment of boundaries prior to the 1919 election the Selwyn electorate went out of existence. A large part of it was merged m the Ashburtoir electorate, for which Mr Dickie stood, against the Hon. W. Nosworthy,,/lbat was unsuccessful. Mr Dickie was for a number- of a valued member of the AsWbjlrton County Council, and he was a 'member of the Ashburton Hospital and Charitable Aid Board at the time of his death. He was also a member of the Ashburton and the Methven A. and P. Associations and of the South Rakaia Masonic Lodge. Latterly, he had been strongly advocating the establishment of maternity homes at Rakaia and Methven, and at the May meeting of the Hospital Board, he submitted offers of sites for these institutions. At that meeting Mr Dickie did not appear to be m his usual health. Mr Dickie was of a most kindly disposition, and was highly esteemed by all who knew him. He married Miss Peryman, » niece of Mr James Peryman, who was then one 6f the oldest residents m Grey mouth. He leaves a widow.. two grown-up sons, and a daughter.