OBITUARY. MR. J. H. WALLACE.

Evening Post, Volume XLI, Issue 134, 9 June 1891, Page 3

OBITUARY. MR. J. H. WALLACE.

Anothor woll-known figuro in tho community hftH passed ovor to tho groat major•ity in tho porson of Mr. John Howard Wol» ■lace, who broathod hie last at his rcsidonco in Woolcombo-stroot shortly aftor 3 o'clock this morning. Tho docoased was ono of tho ■early settlers in Now Zealand, having been :» resident of the colony for ovor 50 years, i and no ono was bettor ablo to describo its rise and progross. Tho (locettsod gontlonmn was tho son of Mr. John Wallace, tho uoscondnnt of an old Scottish family, and was born in Livorpool on tho 11th of Fobru•ary, 1810. His fatbor aftorwards removod to Birmingham, whoro tho son ro•ooivod liis education. After leaving school tho subjoet of this notico was apprenticed to Mr. James Drako, book- • soller and law stationer, of 52, Now«stroot, Birmingham, and romainod in his sorvioo for Bovon years. Tho oatablishment of Mr Drako was frcqnontod by a number of leading peoplo, and Mr. Wallaco was brought into contact with many persons who took a prominent part in tho great political reform which did so much good for tho Tiritiiil) people. While he was in Mr Dr dko . 8 8 U d \ B JI ploymont ho was selected by th-,t efmHoitinn to make notes an* sketches tfCffi with tho issno of two r<- llwftv Bu l c 1 0 hAokT tho kmd ever iss^ cd v England and in pursuance of his duUoa he &™& Kt™"^ indocd Perambulating ovor nml M V s * rom Birmingham to Liverpool *"" lv .*nohoBtor, and from Birmingham to ?*. ..don. ffho Guides woro edited by a Miss f wtunloy from tho notes which ho had made dating his travels, and the skotohos which lio had takon at tho sarao time woro prepared for tho books by his own father. Whilo engaged in travelling tho linos of railway soforrod to, ho mado the acquaintance of Mr. S. White, "who was a traveller for the firm of Messrs. Lucas and Co., of Bristol and Birmingham, and they thon decided to •emigrate together. In tho middlo of •July, 1839, Mr. Howard severed his tconnootion with Mr. Drake's establishment, wid on tho 18th of September of tho samo yoar ho embarked for Now Zealand in the .Aurora, which arrived in Port Nicholson on the 22nd of January, 18<JM, Mr. White, who ■snbsequontly married one of his sisters, boing m follow passenger. Soon after landing ho iand Mr. White enterod into partnership aa igpnoral merchants here, thoir plaoo of business boing on Lambton-qnay, and subsequently a branch was opened at Nelson, Mr. White going ovor to manago it in 1812. Mr. White died there, and Mr. James Smith, who .had married tho widow, became Mr. Wallace' s •partner. Tho partnership was eventually • dissolved, and Mr. Smith wont to England. . Mr. Wallace continued tho business on his •own account for somo years, and his son Bruce thon entered into partnership with mm as auctioneers, commission agents, &o M ■ weir establishment being in Hunter*stre(ft; *r Wallace, sen., retirod from commercial lifo ■about eight yoars < ago, and for some yoars past he had resided in Wooloo'mbe-street. For about two'years bofore his death ho had (been ailing, wul at times his health was such 'as to cause tho greatest anxiety to his relatives and friends. Abont ten days ago ho was obliged to tako to his bed, and although Dr. Collins, who had attended him for a oonsidorablo period, did all that medical -skill could avail, ho gradually sank, p,nd breathed his last this morning) having beon unconscious for son)* hottrs previously. His ago was ta. -Tbb Immediate cause of death was .Tiestt fliscaso. 'The late Mr. Wallace was ono of tlioso Avho boro a good aharo of tho heat and burden of early colonisation, hia constant «dosire being to further tho intorosts of his ftdoptod country. Ho took an aotive part "in local politics, and was for eight years 'Chairman of Committees in the Wellington Provincial Council, in which capacity ho performed valuablo publio service. Ho was also at ono timo a member of tho Town Board, and for many years ho was on tho Commission of tho Peace. In tho early days an association was formod in Wollington to draw up a potition to tho House of Commons, praying that a Constitution should be framed for New Zoaland, and Ttlr. Wallace was ono of the most activo mombers of the organisation, many of whose suggestions wore embodied in the Constitution subsequently granted to tho colony. Mr. Wallaoe also took a lively interest m tho various gatherings which were hold to oolobrate tho anniversary of the colony, and sria fnco and form were conspionons at tho Jnbiloo festivities last year. Ho acted as *one of the secretaries of tho movement, and ■was one "of tho four gentlemen who received an illuminated address in recognition of the ••servioes rendored in connection with tho (celebration. Tho lato Mr. Wallaco was married in "Wellington, and his wife survives him. A ilargo family was born, but only throe of them ra.ro now living — ono danghter, the wife of Mr. J. B. Haroourt, of Wellington, Mr. Brnco "Wallaoe, who is in Molbonrne, and Mr. .John Wallace, at proaont in England. Six •of the family woro oarried off by tho malignant fever epidemic which was experienced many years ago, and another died from tho ■effects of an acoklent. Tho doocaaod was an energetio citizen, ■and was much respeoted. From tho time of his arrival to his last illness, he mode it his business to obtain as much information as he possibly could concerning tho rise and progress of tho colony, and ho was tho principal author of " The Early History of Now Zoaland," a work which furnishes a vast quantity of valuable data. Ho also prepared a manual of tho Bame work for use in .the schools. The funeral will loave tho docoaaed'a late rosidonoo in Wooloombe-stroot at 11 a.m. on Thursday.