OBITUARY.

HON. W. S. PETER, M.L.C.

This morning, about nine o'clock, the Hon. W. S. Peter breathed bis last. As will have been seen from the bulletins that have been published almost duily m our columns, thehon. gentleman had been suffering from a painful disease, and during the past fortnight was dangerously ill. He was seized with intestinal intkmation on the 7th inst., and'though the attack wan not at tirsfc so severe us to alarm either himself or his family., yet when his medicnl attendant, Dr Trevor, saw him, he considerel the symptoms such as to require constant medical care, and the patient's removal from his home at Auama to the .Ashburton Hospital was accordingly arranged, ho . tha,t Mr Peter might have: the benefit of Dr Trevor's daily supervision, Mr Peter bravely faced the journey, and was placed m the Hospital under Mrs M'Kay's tender nursing. As the symptoms increased m severity, the aid of Dr Moorhouse, Christchurch, was sought, and that gentleman was- unremitting m his visits and attention to the patient. Hope rose and fell for many days m the bosoms of those to whom the deceased was dear, but the end was approaching ; and although Mr Peter was a man of fine physique, and strong -constitution; thY weight of years told against his recovery, and he suceumbedy as stafetl, at nine o'clock this morning* Mr Peter was bom m Perthshire, Scotland, m the year 1818, and after finishing a liberal education, took up sheep-farming ; as » vocation. Ac the age of nineteen he left the Old Country to seek his fortune m Australia. He followed the fortunes of station life m South Australia, till his marriage m 1862, m which year, the fame of New Zealand, and of the promise of her bright,, future having reached him he Jsdiight our/shores,' and landed m Canterbury. After prospecting for land he settled upon the Anama run, and there he had been ever "since*. His history since then is well known to most residents m the county. He has been an industrious farnier, a good neighbor, and a valuable colonist. He was called to the Legislative Council many yeai 'j ago, and held a seat m that House to the day of his death. Locally, he was a member of the Road Board of his district, and took an interest m every good movement for the benefit of those more immediately around him, although/he. took no prominent part generally m the puVlic affairs of #he couniy, but lived a quiet unobtrusive life m the privacy of his upland entile. Mr Peter was a scientific sheep farmer, and successful m his industry, the Anama merinos possessing a name to conjure by through nt fc'ic S. v h Is'and. Mr Peter leaves a widow,' three sons an two daughters, who will have 1 he sympathy of a wide circle m their bereavement. , We are informed that a special tram" ■will hsave Ashburtpnfor;Anamaso'.m after the 11 a.m. train arrives from Christ church on Tuesday, to convey friends to the funeral, which takes place at the Mount Somera cemetery, leaving the homestead at noon.