PASSING OF OLD COLONIST.

MRS ELLEN MARY COLDICUTT. An o.tcemc.l old resident of Aurklund, Mrs. Ellen Mary Coldicutt. died on the 21st. at 78 Grafton Koad. in the seventy-sixth year of her age. Dcc_a_cd was born at " Ely, Cambridge, England, on July 19. 1843. and arrivi-d in Auckland by the ship Cresswell (Captain Burnett), on September 13, 180:1. The ' vessel called at New Plymouth, and . came on to Auckland. Deceased was the elder daughter of Mr. Charles Hill. ' who was the lirst carriage builder in this city. She. like the daughters ol many other Protestants in those early days, was educated at St. Mary's Con- • vent, Ponsonby. ln ISO., she was married to Mr. Job Coldicutt, son of Mr. William Coldicutt, ol Manukau Grove Farm, Epsom. The Utter gentleman, it I is of interest to note, built the first stone house iv Auckland as far back as ' 1847. It still stands fronting the road beyond Mt. Eden terminus. The structure is of dressiti scoria, gable ended, and with a basement for the dairy. Prior to th?.t house being built, Mr. V\ . iColdicutt lived on his farm in a whare in 1843.

The wedding of deceased with Mr. .1. Coldicutt took place in the old St. Paul's Church, Kmily Place, the officiating minister being the Uev. .1. Palmer, .he husband died many years ago. Deceased is survived by a grown up family of four daughters and four son*. Her \ youngest sou. Lieut. N. K. Coldicutt, is on active service, having left Auckland with the sth Contingent. Interment was private at St. Andrews Anglican Cemetery, Epsom, to-day. HON". TIIOMAS TIIUMTSON. At the ripe age of SO years, the Hon. Thomas Thompson died yesterday at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. A. Kohn, Hillside Crescent, Mount Eden. During his long residence of over 60 years in Auckland, deceased made many friend.. Born in Ireland, he was trained in the pToce-y trade. When the gold rtrs-h took place to the Victorian goldfields, Mr. Thompson went out there, and started business in 1853, as a carrier of stores from Melbourne to the various diggings. Over sixty year, ago he came to Auckland, and for a long period carried on a grocery business at the corner of Victoria and Albert Streets. During the Maori war in 1563, Mr. Thompson saw service with the volunteers, having taken part in the inauguration of that movement. He received his lieutenant's commission in 1.1)7. In local matters Mr. Thompson woe a member of the Mount Kden Road Hoard, also the Domain Hoard and School Committee for that district. In IS7B he was elected a member of Auckland City Council, and retained his seat until 18S4. He also represented the Council on the Harbour Hoard at one time. Mr. Thompson entered political life in ISSI, when he was elected to represent Auckland North in the House of Representatives. He held that seat for three years, and in 1S!K) he was elected for Auckland city. He was eleetfil again in 15!!.., and

he remained a member until 1599. He J held the portfolios of Minister for De- > fence, Justice and Industries and Com- ' merce, from lS'lfi till 1899. In 1903 he 1 was called to tlie Legislative Council. ' and wa_ re-appointed in 1010. ceasing to ' he a member by effluxion of time in • March. 1917. Mr. Thompson enjoyed excellent health, which was not even seriously disturbed by a buggy accident at Rotorua on .January 23, 191R, when he sustained two broken arms, a dislocated 'shoulder and an injury to bis ribs, lie continued to enjoy good health until he was attacked by the recent inlluenza epidemic, from which he never full}- recovered. For the past three weeks he had been practically confined to his bed. Mr. Thompson leaves a son, Mr. J. Thompson, of Greytown, and a daughter, Mrs. A. Kohn, of Auckland. The funeral will take place to-morrow. MR CHARLES AIDER. (Dy Telegraph. —Press Association.) NEW PLYMOUTH, this day. The death is announced of Mr. ('hurles • Ahier, aged 70. He was a very old colonist, a Waikato war veteran, and was associated with the early gold ventures at Thames.* Kor the last twenty-five years he had been in the timber trade in Taranaki.