OBITUARY

HON. J. GRIMMOND, M.L.C

EXPIRES SUDDENLY AT ROSS,

. The death is announced by Press Asso-. ciation message from Hokitika of the Hon Joseph Grimmond, M.L.C., at the age of 81 years. Mr. Grimmond expired suddenly at his home at Boss, WestJand, last evening, after returning from a short walk.

The late Mr. Grimmond -was born. at Drogheda, Ireland, in 1843, and was a son of Mr. James Grimmond. He was educated at the Blue Coat School, at 'Drogheda, and, after leaving school he followed the calling of an engineer. He was attracted to the colonies in 1859, and first settled in .Australia, landing in Melbourne from the ship Eagle. He worked on the goldfields of Ballarat and Creswick Creek for two years, and was then drawn to New Zealand with the rush to Gabriel's Gully, where he worked with success. Two years later he went to Wakamarina, and afterwards he removed to the West Coast iiv the 1865 rush. He erected mining machinery at Boss and Reefton, and also constructed iind owned sawmills in the Eeeftou district and at Ross. In mining matters he was very successful, and was largely interested in various ventures. For some time he was mine manager for the Band of Hope Mining Company and also for the Ross United Gold Mining Company, in which he held a large interest- until it was liquidated. Together with Messrs. M'Kay and Davy he owned the Back Creek and Kaneiri Lake water-races. He was also interested at the most active stage of his career in the Mont d"Or Gold Mining Company at Ross.

In local affairs and in the political field Mr. Grimmond performed lengthy public service. He was Mayor of Ross for ten terms of office, and was five times chairman of the Westland County Council. He entered politics in 1887, defeating Mr. John Bevan by 290 votes in the contest for the Westland seat in the House of Representatives, which he occupied until the close of the session of 1890. During that period Mr. Grimmond. took a prominent part in connection with many Bills which were introduced and passed, including the Hokitika High School Act Tn 1890 he contested the seat against Mr. Seddon", who obtained a majority of 338, and again in 1896, when he suffered another defeat at the hands of the popular Premier. He was called, to the Legislative Council in 1918, and his first term of, office was due to expire early next year; he was highly respect--ed by his colleagues in the Legislature. Latterly the weight of his years has borne heavily upon him, 'and while he has played an active part in tho Committee work his vuice has seldom been heard in the debutes.

Mr. Grimmond •married in 1898 a daughter of the late Mr. Duncan Macfarlane, at one time a Stipendiary Magis-. Uftto at Httkitika. His wife liurvivea