OBITUARY.

MR. FRANS LAWRY. A prominent politician of former days, Mr. Frank Lawry _ died in the Auckland Hospital yesterday in his 82nd year. He had been a patient in the institution for a week, the infirmities of old age having overtaken him. Air. Lawry, who represented Parnell in Parliament from 1890 to 1911, was born in 1839 at Bleadon, Somersetshire, England, his father beim» the late "Mr. William Lawry, a •farmer and erstwhile Methodist minister. He was educated at the British school at Weston-super-Mare, and was engaged on his fatheads farm until 1863, when he left for New Zealand in the ship Ulccates. For a short period Mr. Lawry found employment in The service of the late Mr. J. Dilworth, and then" for a year "was in the employ of the late Mr. Thomas Macky. Early in 1565 ha started a dafry farm at Epsom, shortly afterwards entering upon a larger venture at Surrey Hills. In 1868 he commenced business on a large scale as a commission agent in live stock. For a number of years Mr. Lawry was a member of the North Auckland Cattle Boards and for a time was president of the Auckland A. and P. Association. For 13 consecutive years he was chairman of the Epsom Road Board, and for two years a member of the Board of Education. In politics he was always active. His first attempt to secure Parliamentary honours was made in 1881, when he contested the South Franklin seat, his opponent, Major Hamlin, being returned fey a majority of some 40 votes. Three years later Mr. Lawry sought to oust Sir Maurice O'Rorke for the Manukau seat, but was defeated by 127 votes. In 1887 he stood for the North Franklin seat in opposition to Mr. W. F. Buckland, and on that occasion was returned by some 50 votes as an Independent Liberal. Maintaining his position of independence throughout the" tenth Parliament, he was elected to. the eleventh in IS9O for the constituency of Parnell, defeating Mr. J. M. Lennox by 209 votes. He went into the House as a supporter of the Ballance Administration, and his constituents, showed their approval of this action bv re-electing him in 1893 bv a majoritv of 336 votes over Mr. W. Shepherd Allen. At the general election of 1896 Mr. Lawnhad two opponents—Mr. Samuel "Vaile. whom he defeated by 478 votes, and Mr. A. Withy, who gained third place At each subsequent election he was re-elected for Parnell until 1911. on which occasion he did not stand. In 1891 Mr. Lawry was* chosen senior Government Whip, holding that office until 1894, when he resigned it owing to some conflict with certain members of the party. Throughout his long Parliamentary career he was a member of the AgriwUtttra! and Pastoral Committee, and for several years was chairman of tb* committee. ■He also served on many other_ committees. Mr. Lsiwrv was a prominent mason, and he always £°°k.,55. i ? terest »* sporting and athletics, to 1870 he married Miss S. Davies. of Epsom, who, with an «nly, daughter, survives him.- Since his retirement from public life, Mr. Lawry had lived at ParaelL