OBITUARY.

„- _ ♦ 3VIR JOHN THOMSON. [Pan Press Association.] I , DUNEDIN, October 20. The death is announced of Mr John Thomson, of. Port Chalmers, ' actingchairman of the Dock Trust. j ; — HON J. T. PEACOCK. The Honourable John Thomas Peacock, member of the Legislative Council, who died at a his residence at four, o'clock this morning, aged seventyeight, was one of the small band of .early colonists who landed at Port Cooper in 1844, some years before the Canterbury Settlement was inaugurated. He was the eldest son of tbe late Mr John Jenkins Peacock, was bora in 1827 ra the Hawkesbury district, New South Wales, and was educated at Sydney College. At the age of fifteen Mt Peacock accompanied his father to this colony, and fox twelve years was engaged in trading on the coast. Mr Peacock commenced business in Christchurch under the style of J. T. Peacock and Co., as merchants and shipowners, and for seven years conducted a large and growing trade. Retiring in 1863, he. built his handsome residence in Papanui Road, known as " Hawkesbury," where he has since resided. He bore the reputation of being a most enterprising colonist, and never fiesitated to risk his energies and money in enterprises deemed to be of advantage to the country. He was one of the original promoters of the Kaiiapoi Woollen Company, and to his enterprise in purchasing the plant of the original company, which would otherwise nave been sold for export, is due the credit of saving for Canterbury the nucleus of this splendid industry. Mr Peacock was chairman of the local Joard of directors of the Alliance Assurance Company, of London, and was one of the founders and continuously a director of the TJnioi Insurance Company, which was acquired by the former Society. He was a director of tfa© Chiristchuroh Meat Company and of the Permanent Investment and Loan Association of Canterbury, and was one of the largest proprietors of tbie Christchurch Tramway Company. Mr Peacock was one of the promoters of the New Zealand Shipping" Company, and continued to act as a director until it was "decided to use steamships, when he resigned, as he considered the proposal premature. He was a member of the Provincial Council of Canterbury in fße early days, and held the position, of Secretary of Public Works for two years before the abolition of the provinces, ihe late Mr W. M. Maelcell beIne Provincial Secretary, Sir^Cracroft Wilson, President of the Council, and the Hon W. RoHeston, Superintendent. In 1869 Mr Peacock was returned to the House of Representatives as member for Lyttelton, which he represented for three years, and. five years later was elevated to the Legislative Council. Mr Peacock was a justiioe of the -peace, and had served on local governing bodies. He was the first Mayor of the borough of St Albans, and filled tfie chair for two yeiars ; for nearly a quarter of a century he had held a seat on ■ the Lyttelton Harbour Board, of wi".' ** he was some time chairman. .