OBITUARY.

THOMAS HAMILTON ANSON. r By the death of Mr T. H. Anson, which took place last evening, Canterbury has lost another of the early settlers, one who for many years was intimately connected with a number of local bodies in the province. About three weeks ago some stacks of oat sheaves on Mr Anson's farm ■at Courtenay were found to be on fire about eleven o'clock at night, and he at once went to the spot, which was about two miles from his house, and remained working at the fire all night while wet through. It is surmised that he then caught a chill, which resulted in his death. On Thursday last he left his home to , attend a meeting of the Board of Education, and, feeling unwell, did not come into town, but stayed for the night at Mr John Ferguson's houee at Halswell. He, however, came on to the meeting of the Board tbe next morning. Dnring. the meeting he was taken seriously ill, and waß moved to the house of Mr James Brett, Fendalton. Dr [Nedwill, who was called in, at once pronounced the case a serious one, and in epi te of unremitting attention, Mr Anson passed away at a quarter past eight last evening. Mr Anson was the son of. an officer in the Imperial army and was born in India, and with his parents lived there through the exciting times of the Sepoy Mutiny. His father died shortly afterwards. He proceeded to England with his mother, and was educated at Eton. Upon leaving tbat school he came out to Canterbury in the ship Cressy about 1860, and was engaged as a cadet on Mr C. J. Harper's Lake. Coleridge station. About 1863 he entered into partnership with the late Mr J. K. Karslake and purchased the Waireka run in the Malvern dietrict, as well as a block of country on the Broken Biver from Mr C. J. Harper. After occupying the property for about two years, they disposed of it to Messrs Foster and Moore, aod it was afterwards joined to the Craigieburn run. In 1868, Messrs Karslake and Anson purchased the Mount Torlesse run from Mr E. Curry, and occupied it for several years. On the death of Mr Karslake, the property was sold to the late Colonel Brett. Mr Anson then went to reside at Courtenay, on the property which he occupied np to the time of his death. In 1871 he married a daughter of the late Captain Gorle. ' This lady, with eight children, survives him. The eldest son, who is twenty-one years of age, has been managing the farm for some time. Mr Anson was chairman of the local School Committee ever since Couitenay was proclaimed a school district, chairman of the Courtenay Boad Board from its formation, and president of the Courtenay Agricultural and Pastoral Association since the death of Colonel Brett. He was also a member of the Selwyn Licensing Committee, Selwyn County Council and of the North Canterbury Education Board for a considerable time, and was chairman of the latter body for two years, and also a member of the Appointments Committee of the Board. He took considerable interest in church. work, and was for many years lay reader of the Courtenay Anglican Church, wb,ere, Bince the resignation of the Eev Mr Collins, he carried on the Berviceß regularly. Mr Anson twice contested elections for the Houee of Bepresentatives, but each time was unsuccessful. During his residence in the Malvern and Kowai Pass districts he was always conspicuous in hia readiness to help in any movement which he considered of benefit to the distiict. His quiet, gentlemanly demeanour, Bound common sense, pluck as a pioneer and unselfish desire to help all around him won for him the respect of all classes. His name will long be remembered as one of those who did much, to make Canterbury what she is at present. The funeral will take place at Courtenay to-morrow...