Death or Mr James Laird

_, Yet another sterling pioneer has passed to his rest. We refer to Mr. James Laird, whose death, which occurred yesierday afternoon, we chronicle with very sincere regretl. The. deceased was in every sinse a worthy townsman, and no one took a keener interest in ail matters affecting the welfare of the town and district. His association with Wanganui dates back to 1867, and from tihe time of his arrival right up till the hour of his death he was, so to speak, in .public harness. Prior tor 1867 Mr. Laird reskted in New Plymouth, in which town he arrived! in 1855. There, for five years, he carried! on_ the nursery business. He served in the "Maori war during 1860 and 1865, and was awarded the New Zealand war meaal. When, finally, in the year already mentioned, Mr. Laird came to Wang&nui he established the now well known Egsrwmt Nursery. Of late years he has not been actively connected with the business1, which has been carried on by his sons, and which to-day hay grown to be one of the largest concerns of its kind! in the colony. Mr. Laird has taken a very prominent part in public affairs. He sat for more tihan fifteen years as a Borough Councillor, and' from 1886 to 1888 waa Mavolr of Wangamiil. Whilst in the Borough Council ne was instrumental in the purchase of Lake We&toere for the water supply. He has been a member of the Hospital and Charitable Aidi Boards, with two brief intervals, for the past ten years. He succeeded the late Mr. A. J. Parsons as chairman of those bodies, and held office till he retired1 in December, 19U0, owing to ill health. In the following year he waa again elected to the Board and to the chairmanship, a position he held up to the time of his death. During Mr. Parsons' long illness Mr. Laird officiated as acting-chairman. He took a very Jive and a very practical interest in the erection of the new hos,pital< and more recently still in the Victoria Memorial Ward. He neither sparedl hie energy nor his time, a:nd supervised the work of erection with as much care as if the building were his own. A resolution on the Board's books bears testimony to the appreciation of his colleagues of the excellent and untiling services which he rendei^ed in connection with the new hjospital. Mr. Laird has also served the County, having been a member of the Waitobara County Council, and, for some time,' chairman of that body. By virtue of his County chairmanship he was also a. member of the Harbour Board. Prom this it will be seen that few men have rendered to Wanganui more varied, constant, lengthy, and practical service to the burgesses and settlers. Me. Laird was twice married1, his " first wife having pre-deceased him more than twenty-five years. The deceased leaves a family of nine by the first marriage, and to them and the widow we tender our sincere sympathy. Mr. Laird had been ill for some weeks* past, but even: as late as yesterday morning he had taken a. turn for the better. Tihe end came suddenly and unexpectedly at 5.15 lastfc evening. The funeral has been arranged to take place on Saturday afternoon, leaving the residence at 2.30.