DEATH OF THE HON. T. FERGUS

(II TELBQRAPH.— PRESS ASSOCIATION.) DUNEDIN, This Day. The death wa6 announced to-day of the Hon. Thomas Fergus. He was taken ill yesterday, and an operation was perform' ed last night, but he died this morning, aged 63. The Hon. Thomas Fergus at the time of his death was a director of the Bank of New Zealand, being so appointed by the Government in March last, and his wide business experience, it is understood, was much valued by the board. He waa an Ayrshire man, and was edu cated partly in Melbourne ahd partly in Otago. He arrived in New Zealand in 1869, ahd was district engineer in his earlier days under the Otago Provincial Government. Later, he became a member of the contracting firm of Henderson and Fergus, who carried out. many large undertakings 'in both islands. He was subsequently associated with Mr. J. B. Blair, and with him built railways and other works in Australia and Tasmania. He was also in business as a, merchant in Dunedin with the late Mr. Donald Reid. In 1881 he became a member of the House, and ultimately joined the Atkinson Administration, and was Minister for Public Works, Defence, Justice, and Mines.