Obituary.

MR J. L. HASSELL. Death has severed another of the links of the chain which connects the past with the present, its victim on this occasion being Mr James Lloyd Hassell, one of the pioneers of onr town, and a resident in the vicinity for nearly 30 years. Mr Hassell was in fairly good health until about a month ago, when he became indisposed, and hisjhealth rapidly failing, a complete break-up ensued, ending ih his ultimate decease. Mr Hassell was a native of Surrey, whence he migrated to Australia and took up the Mooraby .run, in Victoria, which property afterwards developed into a rich goldfield. He came to New Zealand in 1859, and purchased from Mr Filleul the Oamaru run, whichextended from Oamaru through Cave Valley," and the homestead of which is now occupied by Mr Joseph Williams. The deceased gentleman then chartered a vessel and brought over from Australia his Lares and Penates—family, house, cattle, sheep, and hands to work his property. Hi 9 first journey from Dunedin to Oamaru is historical. This was before the coaching days, and before a steamer had entered our roadstead. He" made his way on horseback with only a compass to guide him, which was no mean, task, when we consider that there was then not such a thing as a track, much less a road, between here and our provincial capital. Mr Hassell first erected his house on the land where the old Courthouse now stands, but subsequently transferred it to his Cave Valley estate, and it is now occupied by Mr Williams, who, as we previously mentioned, purchased the property from him. He built the old windmill, which was the first flour mill in Oamaru, and afterwards erected the malthouse in Wear street, where he carried on business for som9 time. In 1874 Mr Hassell took a trip home, and, upon his return went into business in Tyne street, where he remained until he left to take up his residence in Waimate some few years ago. Mr Hassell was well-known as a sheep breeder, and was for a long time an enthusiastic committeeman of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association. He was connected at one period or another with all the public bodies of the community, was an elder of St. Paul's Church, a Councillor, a Justice of the Peace, and a member of the Harbor Board for a number of years. The departed gentleman leaves many relatives to mourn bis loss. Mrs Hassell and two unmarried daughters reside at Waimate, while another daughter is well-known in Oamaru as the wife of Dr Garland. The eldest son James is in business in Australia ; the second, Lloyd, is engineer for the Queensland railway department: and the third, Gray, is the able medical superintendent of the Wellington Lunatic Asylum. Mr Hassell was a loving husband, a devoted father, a genial friend, and a kindly master. Scrupulous in all things, Vhile he failed to make a single enemy, he has left a legion of friends who will miss the smile and the hand-clasp of one who is "Not lost, but gone before."