MR. JOHN EDIE

The death occurred at Lawrence yesterday of Mr. John Edie, ex-member of Parliament for Clutha (states a Press Association telegram from Dunedin). Ho had been confined to bed for six months owing to heart weakness. He was in his seventy-third year. Mr. Edio was a civil engineer and surveyor by profession, and was a member of the Government survey staff. The bush country from Tawanui to tho end of Catlins River was surveyed' by him years before the railway was constructed. Mr. Edie was engineer ■ for tlio Tuapoka County Council for Biany years. Nine years ago he contested the

Brude seat against' Sir James Allen, and was beaten by a narrow majority, but on the retirement of Sir James Allen he again contested the seat with Mr. J. Begg, of Dunedin, and was returned. The seat ha<l been held for over thirty years by the Reform Party. Prior to ■ the 1923 election the Bruce seat was cut out, and.Mr. Edie decided to. contest the Clutha scat against Mr. A. Malcolm, whom ho defeated by 120 votes. Mr. Edie again contested the seat at the General Election of 1925 as a supporter of the National Party, but was defeated by a substantial majority by the sitting member, Mr. F. Waite (Reform). Mr. Edio was for some years captain of the Tuapeka Rifles, and for a short period took an active part in developing the mining industry, and was personally interested in gold mining. He had also engaged in farming pursuits, and had an interest with his two sons in a farm at Tuapeka West. He came to New Zealand as a child in the 'sixtips, and had two sons iit tlic ivav, one of whom was a doctor.