OBITUARY.

WILLIAM BAKER GIRLING. It is our painful duty to record the death of Mr William Baker Girling, the well known merchant, which occurred early on Sunday morning at his residence m High Street. The sad news oame as a great shock to the community, for Mr Girling's death was sudden and unexpected. He had been indisposed for somo days, but he was m his business premises as late as one o'clock on Saturday afternoon. There he complained of feeling unwell, and left the shop for his house. During the night his con dition became so alarming that medical assistance was summoned, '< and Dr Anderson attended him. He administered a sedative, and re mained with the sufferer, who gradually sank, and passed away at about six o'clock. Deceased, who was 66 years of age, has been a resident of Blen heim for over 20 years. He has been intimately connected with the progress of the t >wn, and probably no one possesses more knowledge of the commercial history of the place than he did. He came from Australia about 25 years ago to Nelson, and shortly afterwards arrived m Blenheim to manage the drapery business of Wymv>nd and- Co., which was started m the Provincial Chambers, near Fell's wharf, and subsequently located m Grove Road, on the site now occupied by the store erected by the Farmers' Co -operative Association. About 18 years ago Mr Girling started business on the site on which stands the fine large premises known as W. B, Girling and Cos. Hall of Commerce. Deceased was a most capable tradesman, and the Hall of Commerce is a monument of his mercantile success He always applied himself very closely- to his business, and never took any active part m municipal or other public affairs, although he interested himself m any movement calculated to advance the trade and commerce of the town and district. Be was generally esteemed, and a large number of friends here and throughout the Colony will regret his demise. A widow, three daughters and a son— the children being under the age of twenty one years— mourn his death ; and he also leaves a married daughter, by a former marriage, wh?» resides m Brisbane. His family will have very general sympathy. The news of Mr Girling's death has been received throughout the district with very great regret. Mr Girling was held m much esteem by all the old residents with whom he had business transactions, and his generosity and liberality to all the churches and charitable institutions will not soon be forgotton. •' To die is landing on some silent shore, " Where billows never break nor tempests roar ; " Ere well we feel the stroke, 'tis o'er." |