OBITUARY

HON. ,W. STEVENSON, M.L.C,

A Press Association message from Invercargill states that the Hon. William Stevenson, a; member of the Legislative Council since June, 1930, died this morning after a prolonged illness.

Born at Dunedin in 1864, the Hon. William Stevenson started his career at an early age, being, in a sense! one of the pioneers of the southern end of the South'lsland! He was a sort o£ the late John Stevenson, of the Henley estate, Taieri. He was educated at the Taieri Ferry school, the Oamaru Grammar School, the Dunedin Normal School, and the Otago Boys' High School, and went with his parents..to , the, Waihaoruriga Estate, South. Canterbury, to become a boundary rider at Braemar at the age of 13., He was manager: of Braemar .when only 18 years of age." For twp years he was head, stockman of the Henleg-Estate, where he had charge of 150J9 dairy cattle, and later spent a considerable ■ time in the dairying • industry oh various share-milking farms. He was manager .of Wairuna, South Canterbury,.for;three :years, and spent

five years farming on his own account. 3He then turned his attention, to, city business, and for eight years was representative of theJDresden Piano Company, (later the" Bristol Piano Company) , : Invercargill. [ , Entering the motion-picture business, he started a circuit, in Southland with headquarters at Gore, and later invested money in several coal properties in the Nightcaps area. He retired from active work in 1927.

Mr. .Stevenson was always a staunch Liberal supporter, being a personal friend of the late Sir Joseph Ward. He was chairman of the Liberal Committee in .Invercargill for many years, president of the Southland Liberal-Labour Association for a 'period, and' later of the United Party. He was keenly interested in matters of, interest to Scotsmen, being chief :of the Highland Society, Invercargil], and president of the Caledonian Society. He was a past Grand Master of' the M.U.1.0.0.F. of Southland, chairman of the Southland High School Board of Governors, and took a keen interest in many Southland activities:

Mr. Stevenson was a. large-built, large-hearted man, . and was exceedingly popular with .all who knew him. He was always, an advocate of Liberal reforms, but after his appointment to the Legislative Council his health failed him, and he. never took part in any of the debates in the Council, being popularly known as the "silent member." , , .

He married Miss L.' A. Lamont, of Oamaru, who predeceased him, and he is survived by one son (of Balclutha) and,one daughter (of Wanganui). '..;■.,

MR. J. W. BALLINGER

Mr. Joseph William Ballinger, one of the early residents of-Wellington, died on Thursday, aged 85. He was born in England and came to Wellington as a youth with his parents. In the painting trade he became a well-known figure, and his fine qualities won for him respect and esteem ■ from all who knew him. Mr. Ballinger was an enthusiastic volunteer and . saw many years of service with the Wellington Highland Rifles. Kaiwarra Rifles, Wellington City Rifles, and the Wellington Guards, He' was an excellent shot and won numerous cups and medals, in addition to bang awarded long.service medals. In the early eighties he won the old Wellington Rifle Association s belt for marksmanship. Mr. Ballinger's wife died many years ago! He leaves four sons and two daughters. Mr. Arthur Ballinger. winner of the Ballinger Belt, is a brother and Mrs. G. Faulknor (Wellington) ii a sister.