MR JOHN BOLLARD DEAD.

PASSING OF A VETERAN

LEGISLATOR,

FULL OF YiEAKS AND HONOUR.

A REMARKABLE PUBLIC RECORD.

The news that Mr. John Bollard, the highly esteemed and veteran legislator, who for nearly twenty years represented 'Eden in th c House of (Representatives, and was one of the pioneers of the Avondale district, passed away yesterday, will be received with general regret throughout Auckland, while a. wide circle of friends all over the Dominion will be saddened on hearing of his demise.

The late Mr. Bollard was a native of County Wicklow, Ireland, where he was born 75 years ago last New Year's Day. He emigrated at the age of twenty to Australia, where for a few months he tried his fortune on the goldfields. Unenamoured of his .prospects in search ot tne yellow metal.Jhis eyes turned to the young colony of New Zealand, and he landed in 1801 at Auckland in charge of 200 horses for use by the militia in the Maori war, which had recently broken out. On May 9 of the same year he was married at St. John's College, his wife having also but shortly arrived from her nativ c Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. Bollard immediately took up their residence at Avondale, where they had lived ever since, Mr. Bollard farming, and subsequently becoming a land agent and valuer. During the Maori war he served as a sergeant of militia, first at Otahuhu and later at the Avondale blockhouse.

As an active participant in public affairs, Mr. Bollard held a record unequalled in New Zealand, for the year following his marriage he was elected as a member of the Avondale School Committee, of which he was still a member at the time of his death, having served the whole 54 years on it, and 51 of those years as its chairman. At the celebration of his jubilee as a member, in 1911. he was presented with an illuminated address, the presentation being made by the Minister of Education of the day. the Hon. George Fowlds, while among those who attended the function was the present Prime Minister. At the last meeting of the Committee, held about three weeks ago, he was present.

Another public body on which he served long and faithfully was the Avondale Road Board, of which he was chairman for 28 years, while at one time he also acted as its engineer, for which post he was qualified by early experience in Ireland. "He was also a staunch churchman, having been one of thp founders and original trustees of St. Jude's Church. Avondale. and for many years a churchwarden. Among his other public offices, he was a Justice of the Peace for nearly 40 years, coroner at Avondale for about 30 years, a member of the old Eden Licensing Committee, and a member for many years of the Auckland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board.

I Mr. Bollard's Parliamentary career began in 1596, when he was elected for •Eden, and he held the seat through al! political changes till his retirement before last election. " Honest John" Bollard being one of the few members whom his political opponents regarded as being safely entrenched against all attacks by his hold on the affections of the Eden electors, 'this was. perhaps, the more remarkable in those days of noisy politicians from the fact that he was known as one of the "silent" members of the House. The veteran member for Eden i was not a rhetorician, and seldom spoke. ; but when his voice was raised he spoke from honest convictions, and was acj corded an attention denied to many a i glib and silver-tongued orator. His sterling work on the Agricultural. Pastoral, and Stock Committee, and his advocacy of the establishment of an agricultural college for the North Island are too well known to need emphasis, while his memory must always be dear to workers as having been the first member of Parliame»t to urge the establishment of a workers' homes scheme. Upon his announcement last session of his intention to retire from politics. Mr. Bollard was presented with testimonials of his long and faithful service to the country, and of the high esteem in which he was held by his fellow members on both sides of the House.

For some years past the late Mr. Bollard had suffered from intermittent attacks by an internal complaint, but his general health had been fairly good till last Sunday, when a severe seizure made it necessary for him to undergo an immediate operation. He appeared to make favourable progress till yesterday, morning, when a change set in for the worse, and he died peacefully at 3.30 p.m. yesterday. He is survived by his widow, who is also 75 years of age. and ten children —five sons and fiv P daughters— of whom the eldest is Mr. R. F. Bollard, M.P. for Raglan. T"he funeral will take place at three o'clock to-morrow afternoon at the Avondale Anglican Cemetery.

At last night's raeetins of the Mount Albert Borough Council feeling reference was made to the late legislator, and it was decided to forward a letter of condolence to his widow and family in their bereavement.