DEATH OF MR R. J. CREIGHTON.

APeess Association telegram from Wellington states thab the Postal Department has received the anuouncemenb by cable that Mr E. J. Creighton, mail agenb at San Francisco, had died suddenly. The news of Mr Creighton's unexpected death will be received with great regret in Auckland, as he has many friends and a number of relatives here, and it was in Auckland that he spent many year 3of his life. Mr Creighton was very well known in.journalistic"and public circles in Auckland, and hit many Rood qualities rendered him a general favourite. He was about 58 yeara of; age at the time of his death. Mr Ctei^Titon wa3 a native of tho north of Ireh\\rf, and served an apprenticeship ascompraitor on the "Londonderry Sentinel. Subsequently ho became a newspaper reporter and then a member of the editorial stiff Early in tho " sixties "he came out Id Auckland, and in 1362, with Messrs Siiolea and Tothill, he took over the "Southern Cross" newspaper, from Mr Brown, of the firm of Brown and Campbell. Mr Creighton was for some time editor of the paper, and one of his mosb vigorous lines of policy was the advocacy in the columns of the "Southern Cross of tha prosecution of tho Waikato war.^ The feeling in Auckland against the Maoris at thai) time was very intense, and the "Southern Cross," by giving vigorous exD&cularly distasteful to the coionists. passion to it gained an inmance advantage over its old rival, lie KU Zealonder," conducted by Mr John Williamson, whose philo-Maon sentimonts, though honourable to his hjmanity and sense of justice. _ were During part of the Waikato campaign o 18hA and. also during the East Coast Campaign, Mr1 Creighton acted as special war correspondent to his paper, and his graphic descriptions of the Campaign added to the reputation of the paper which attained a wider circulation and influence than any other journal in Now Zealand at S period. In 1868, Mr (now tor Julius) Vipel purchased the Southern Cross and Mr Creighton started the Auckland Fi« Preas " which, however, had only a fort' existence' Mr Creighton entered DQ'itics and was at one time member S NekoS in the General Assembly and do a member of the Provincial Council afced by a- Joint Stock Company Mr Eton became editor, and he subsestU'of the "Even ing Post," San Jiramusco. He was appointed mail agent and represenX of the New Zealand Government at Bft no rt in connection with tho Pacific

in-law of the late Mr Creightoh. The deceased also leaves three other brothers-in-law in this colony in Mr J. Woodall and John Snaith, of the Thames, and Mr J. MeKenzie, of the Post Office, Napier. Mr Creighton was a warm-hearted, genial man, a clever writer, and one of the ablest journalists the New Zealand press has ever enlisted in its service. Many in Auckland will mourn his loss as that of a dear friend.