OBITUARY.

MR WILLIAM HUTCHISON. Very sincere and general regret, will be felt by a large section of the public to learn of tho denth of Mr William Hutchison, ft very well-known and widelyrespected member of the community, who, having been in indifferent, health for a considerable time, passed away rather suddenly at his residence, Queen street, last evening. The lale Mr William Hutchison was born in the parish of Bcllie, lianlfshire, Scotland, in 11521, and was in his eightyfifth year at the time of his death. lie was educated in his native place and in Inverness, and chose journalism as his profession. Mr Hutchison came out to Auckland in 1866—tho year after the transfer of the seat of Government, to Wellington, —under /iiigsgcniciit with Messrs Crcigliton and Scales, proprietors of the Soul hern Cross'newspaper. A few months after his arrival he was appointed to the editorship of tho W'anganui Chronicle, which journal ho conducted for about nine year?. Mr Hutchison first, entered political life as representative of Wanganui in fhn Wellington Provincial Council, in the deliberations of which he took an active part for some years. Ho loft Wanganui— of which ho had been Mayor—for AVellington in 1874. and founded a daily paper culled the Tribune, which ho successfully conducted for four years, when he disposed of it to Uio late Mr'E. T. Gillon and others. During his residence in Wellington he became Mayor of that city, being elected to the office on five separate occasions. Ho was first elected Mayor of Wellington in December, 1875, succeeding Mr W. S. Woodhouse, and was re-eWlod in the following year. On tho resignation of Mr Dransfield in May, 1879, Mr Hutchison was again returned, and at the annual elections in 1879 and 1860 was again elected; also, durin? his residence in Wellington, the Into Mr Hutchison was returned lo the House of Representatives in 1879 as monitor for that constituency, retaining tile seat till IRB2. In 1882 .ho was elected for Wellington South, which he represented for three years. He removed to Dunedin iu 1831, and engaged in his profession as a journalist. As one of the parliamentary members for Dunedin City from 1890 to 1890 Mr Hutchison will long he remembered. Though defeated at. the general election of 1896, ho occupied a very creditable position on the poll, and at the bycelcction in the following year would probably have been elected had a third party not entered t.ko contest. Mr Hutchison had latterly lived in retirement for several years, the nature of his illness necessitating his leading a. quiet existence. His mental facilities, however, notwithstanding his advanced age, remained unimpaired, as frequent contributions by him to the local press bore evidence. In fact, absolutely the last active work ho did prior to the attack that unfortunately proved fatnl was to conclude p. letter to the Otago Daily Times. At the time of his death he was an ordained elder of Knox Church, and had been nn ordained elder for over half a contuvv. Ho was also a member of the Committee of tho Dnneclin City Mission and a member of the I)empse ¥ v Trust. Tho late Mr Hutchison was married on August 12, 1C46, to Miss Helen Aichcson, of Tnvcmojs, his wife nredeceasin? him by nearly five years. He leaves a family of four sons and four daughters. Of tho former, the eldest son. Mr George Hutchison, formerly M.H.'ft. for Patea, is now in London; tho second, Mr Thomas Hutchison, is stipendiary magistrate at New Plymouth: the third, Mr William Hutchison, is in Johannesburg: and the fourth is Mr James Hutchison, of the Olago Daily Times editorial staff. MR JOHN COLLAR. By the death of Mr John Collar, Dunedin loses one of its oldest citizens, and this colony one of its sturdy pioneers. Born in London in the year 1822, Mr Gollar lived there until he reached man's estate, by which time he had learnt the trade of bread and biscuit baking. Becoming lired with n desire to travel, ho set out for Tasmania, and on arrival there set up in business for himself in Hobart. He was married in 1857 to tho lady who has shared his joys and sorrows during tho past 48 years. About the latter part of 1859, allured by the news of the gold discovery in Olago, he left his wife to'manage his busincs in liobnrt, he brought over a shipment of Clyesdalo horses in the schooner Mary Ann; and. taking advantage of his opportunity, ho filled up tho vessel with all kinds of domestic animals and poultry, carts, drays, harness,, flour, provisions, building materials, etc. Upon arrival he found that a shipment of horses had just arrived in Dunedin before him, and rather than sell the animals at a loss he loaded up his cart and drays with Hour and provisions, and, in company with his brother-in-law (Mr Yates), ho sot out for tho Tuapoka goldfields; and arrived in due time at Gabriel's Gully, where he disposed of his. horses and stock very much to his advantage. He soon tired of n digger's life, returned to Dunedin. and leased two sec.tions in the Octagon, where Dr Martin's promises aro now situated. Here he erected a couple of hvn-slorey shops ami dwellings, and while these were in course of construction lie returned to Hobart, disposed of his business, and brought, his wife and young family over to Dunedin, and opened a bakery in the Octagon premises. .Four years later he met with dire misfortune, losing everything ho had by tho disastrous lire which loft the Octagon a charred ami blackened ruin. Undaunted by this calamity, Mr Gollar''leased a piece of ground from the Into Mr John Hyde Harris at the corner of Albany street and Leith street, which he subsequently purchased, and on which he has resided for the last 12 years. Mr Gollar did not take any active part in politics, but as an Oddfellow his record is probably unequalled in this province. He joined the Uoyal Victoria Lodge of Independent Oddfellows in Hobart on July 29, 1357, and*, brought his clearance; to Dunedin. About the year 1862 Mr Gollar and Imlf-a-dozcn others inaugurated Lodge Pioneer No. 1 1.0.0. F. in Dunedin, of which lodge he continued to bo an active subscribing .member up till tho time of his death. He was well known in sporting circles 30 years ago. and may almost be said to have been the pioneer of trotting iu Dunedin. At any rate, with his advent these races at since assumed an importance at the Forbury which they had previously unknown, and Mr Collar relinquished his turf connection as he joined, a man of unsullied honour and integrity. His favourite mare Polly wns a star trotter in her day. Ho raced his horses only for tho sport it afforded him. Ho held strong views on this question, and relinquished racing altogether rather than sacrilice his principles. A man of strong foicc of character, powerful physique, and active temperament, he took a keen personal interest in his business. Three years ago ho contracted Brights disease, which practically invalided him until a week ago, when pneumonia supervened, and he passed away in spiritual tranqiiility on Friday night. Mr Collar was a siaunch Catholic, and a staunch friend, a man of broad sympathies and wide charities; a mnn who was loyal and truo to his friends through storm and sunshine, a man of unflinching courage and unswerving integrity. Those who knew him best will mourn most, and extend their loving sympathy to his sorrowing helpmeet and family.