OBITUARY.

MR WILLIAM WATSOIV. Mr Wiliiai. '..'atson. who 'lied :.". Patea on August 20th. at the age of 76, was one tr' the early settlers of Canterbury, and one o: the pioneers of Brookside. Born in Lorton, Cumberland, England, in IS-jS. he came to New Zealand with his varcnts in the shit.- Mystery, arriving ia Lyt'ekon. at the age of r-ix. "b March 31st. ISj£>. During the tive years that his parents resided in the neighbourhood of Christchurch, he received what schooling he got. In 1504 the family removal to Brookside, where they established a home at Willow Holm which was not long in becoming known for its rich pastures and its splendid herd of Shorthorn cattle. The work of assisting his father was strenuous, but in spite of that he gave ,'ittentio:i to self study. and in time became a person of extensive reading, and soon began to occupy a place in public activities. He was one of the earliest members of the Brookside Wesleyan Church, and at the age of 19 was a fully accredited local preacher, and did much of the pioneering work of the -Springston and Leeston Circuits, his sphere of activities embracing all the churches of that connexion between Tai Tapu and Southbridge. He also rendered and acceptable service to the Presbyterian Church. As a farmer in the Ellesmere district, he was associated with public activities, and occupied the position of president of the Ellesmere A. and P. Association. About 2~> years ago, he relinquished farming, and took up work as a Home Missionary in the Methodist Church, where he rendered good service in a number of districts, retiring about five years ago, and residing in his last station, Patea, till his death. He married Alice, a daughter of the late Thomas Darton, of Tuapeka, who survives him. as does also his daughter Harriet 'Mrs E- Moore;.

MR ARTHUR A. KEYS. | i I Mr Arthur A. Keys, who died at his residence, Papanui road, last week, came to New Zealand with his parent, j in 1909, when he was 10 years old. He was one of the first Boy Scouts in the Dominion, joining the first Elmwood Troop, the second to be formed m Christchurch. Mr Keys was also an active supporter of the Avon and Union Rowing Clubs and of the St. Albans Soccer Club, of which he was secretary at the time of his death. Four years <»go Mr Keys went to Australia to gain further experience in j his business, returning to New Zea- j land only 12 months ago. He married j in Australia, and his wife and two young children survive him. MR CHARLES FORBES. The death of Mr Charles Forbes on Monday removed one of Canterbury's early pioneers. The late Mr Charles Forbes was born at Ballater, Aberdeenshire, on June 14th. 18-i7. He arrived at Lyttelton on January 3rd. 1868, by the sailing shiD Mermaid, and entered into a partnership known as Murray and Forbes, waggoners. For many years he was engaged in carting wool and produce throughout North Canterbury, *ome trips extending as far as Blenheim. After the railway was extended to Amberlev the partnership was dissolved and the teams were taken to Australia and sold. Returning to New Zealand. Mr Forbes farmed first at Rolleston and then at Dunsandel, and was held in great esteem by all with whom he came in contact. Hie was a very keen athlete in his early days, and excelled at pole-vault-ing. At the sports gatherings which used to be held in Latimer square he was a prominent figure. He was also a life member of the Scottish Society. He retired about 23 years ago, and came to lire in Christchurch His wife, a daughter of the late Mr Charles Young, of Kaiapoi, died four years ago. He is survived by four daughters and two sons. MR J. S. MONCK. The death occurred yesterday of one of the old identities of the Province, Mr John Stanley Monck, of Monck's Bay, in his 85th year. Mr Monck will be remembered by many for his wonderful record as an athlete in the early days of the sport in the Dominion. Mr Monck was born in 1845 in Berkshire, England, and was a son of the late John Bligh Monck, of Coley Park, Beading. He was educated at Bradfield College, Berkshire, and sailed for New Zealand on leaving school. Ho landed at Lyttelton in 1863, and later took up a run near Lake Coleridge,* where he lived until 1569. He was one of the earliest settlers in the district in which he then took up resi- j dence, Redeliffs, near Sumner. Apart j from a visit to England in 1882, he i remained in that district until the time of his death. He married, in 1870, Miss Tomes, daughter of an early colonist. Mr Monck had been living in retirement for the past twenty years. One of the Province's finest athletes, Mr Monck took a prominent part in running in his younger days, and his efforts in this direction culminated in 1873 in his winning the long-distance championship of the Colony. His prowess was not confined to running, however, for he was a very good cricketer in his day, and he also took the keenest interest in sailing. He was for many years the president of the Christchurch Sailing Club, the pioneer organisation of its kind in the district. Mr Monck was one of the foundation members of the club, and evinced the j keenest and most active interest in its | welfare. Mr Monck gave his name to the bay on which he built his home, ! and he owned the greater part of what j is now the well-settled residential part I of Redeliffs, Monck's Spur. His wife j prodeeeased him some time ago.

MR ARCHIBALD M'LEAX. iPMSS ASSOCIATION* TXLESKAM.) HASTINGS, September 3. Mr Archibald McLean, one of the oldest colonists in Hawkc's Bay, died this morning at his residence Greenhill, aged 80. Born in Argyllshire, he came to New Zealand in 1868, settling at Maraekakaho, of which station he was appointed manager by the late Sir Donald McLean in 1870, During his 30 years' control of Maraekakaho, he founded studs in merinos, Lincolns, and Leicesters, as well as studs in Shorthorn cattle, Clydesdales, and Welsh ponies. He retired in 1900 to Greenhill. The late Mr McLean was a prominent member of the A. and P. Society, of which he was a past president, and was one of the foui.ders of lona College. His wife predeceased him by 14 years. AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALLER. (UWtTtO PUSS ASSOCIATES— BY tLxcraic TXUSOBAf U —COPTUIOHT ) (Received September 3rd, 8.55 p.m.) MELBOURNE, September 3. The death has occurred of Mr H. C. Harrison, father of football in Australia and th« originator of the Aus-

tralian game. He played in Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, and West Australia. He was aged 93 years.— Australian Press Association. MR J. F. MAHONEY. (Received September 3rd, 9.10 p.m.) HALIFAX (Nova Scotia), Sept. 3. Mr J. F. Mahoney, Minister for National Kesources, waa killed in an automobile collision to-day.—Australian Press Association, United Service. VISCOUNT MERSEY. (USITZD »*ESS ABSOCIATIOX—Bt tLICTSIO TILIORAPH— COPTBIOHT.) (Received September 4th, 12.45 a.m.) LONDON, September 3. The death has occurred of Viscount Mersey.—Australian Press Association, United Service. [John Charles Bigham, the first Viscount Mersey of Toxteth, was born at Liverpool in 1840, and educated at the Liverpool Institute, Berlin, and Paris. Ho was admitted to the Bar in 1870. From 1897 to 1909 he was a Judge of the King's Bench Division of the High Court of Justice, and was President of the Probate, Divoree, and Admiralty Division in 1909-10. He was commissioner to enquire into the loss of the Titanic in 1912, and President of the Court of Enquiry in Canada on the loss of the Empress of Ireland in 1914. In 1915 he was Wreck Commissioner to enquire into the destruction of the Falaba and Lusitania. His heir is his eldest son, Lieut.-Colonel Hon. C. C. Bigham.] VERY REV. DEAN MAYNE. J-tSSi IMOVUXION T11.1G84W.) NAPIER, September 3. The death is announced of the Very Ret'. Dean Mayne, M.A., aged 61, who had been Dean of St. John's Cathedral since 1906. Dean Mayne was educated at Hatfield Hall University, Durham, ingland. He came out to New Zealand later, and was assistant master at Christ's College from 1893 to 1895. Dean Mayne wont to Napier in 1906.