THE HON. JOHN JOHNSTON. M.L.C.

The above gentleman was a colonist of nearly 20 years' standing. He was one of the earliest Wellington settlers, and by his enterprise and rare business ability established the well-known Wellington firm of Johnston and Co. Mr Johnston, who was a man of considerable culture and a master of several Continental languages, was a native of the North of Ireland. Very soon after his arrival in Wellington from England, he in conjunction with some other friends opened up trade with New South Wales and the other colonies, which, though carried on under great difficulties, was entirely successful. During tho long and most chequered history of this colony he has borne a distinguished part in the noble work of colonisation. In public as well as in private liFo he was deservedly respected. He was a member of both branches of the Legislature—first in the Hcm.se of Representatives, then for many years in the Legislative Council, while he was at one time a member of the Cabinet in one of Hon. E. W. Stafford's administrations. The Hon. Mr Johnston J3 the father of Messrs Charles, Walter, and Sydney Johnston. His second son. Mr Walter Johnston, was for some years Minister of Public Works in Major Atkinson's Government. Mr Charles Johnston was also a member of the House of Representatives in the last Parliament. The Hon. Dr. Grace is a son-in-law of the deceased gentleman, having married his eldest daughter many years ago. Mr Westby Brooke Percival, M.H.R. for one of the Canterbury constituencies, is aleo a son-in-law of the deceased, having married Miss Jessie Johnston, his third daughter. Ib is believed that Mr Johnston's property in the colony would be worth a million sterling, or, perhaps, more. The Hon. Mr Johnston and his family (especially his late kind-hearted wife, who died about ten yeara ago) are known for theirunostentatious and unsectarian charity, public spirit, and private courtesy and hospitality. Mr Johnston himself was one of the oldest Freemasons in Wellington, and though he was a member of the Presbyterian Church, all his children are Roman Catholics, having been reared in the faith of their mother.