SUDDEN DEATH OF REV. PETER MASON.

It is with extreme regret that we have to record the sudden death of an old and esteemed colonist, the Rev. Peter Mason, who died at his residence, Nelson-street, last evening, after returning home from a publio meeting which ho had been attending. The following' are the t particulars so far as we have been able to ascertain :—

Mr. Mason had been in indifferent health for some time past, owing to his advanced age, being in his 71st year. He complained of pains in his head, but he did not deem the mattersufficienUy serious to seek medical aid. and went about his usual avocations, and was on the wharf for a stroll on Tuesday. During yesterday ho felt somewhat heavy and sleepy, and lay down the greater part of the day, but appeared to have no premonitions of anything serious befalling him. In the evening Mr. McLeod, one of the elders of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, called at his residence, and asked him to accompany him to the church prayer meeting. Mr. Mason complied with the request, and they went away together. Mr. Mason returned about half-past eight p.m. He then appeared to be very ill, and could scarcely speak. In response to Mrs. Mason's inquiries, ho said Mr. McLeod had come with him to the gate. She took off his boots, and he went into his bedroom aud threw himself on his bed in his clothes, tossing to and fro. He appeared to bo desirous of speaking, but his tongue was affected, and he was unable to do so. As soon as possible he was put to bed, and Dr. Purchas sent for, but before the doctor arrived Mr. Mason had breathed his last, passing away without being able to say anything, and in a state of unconsciousness. All that was left for Dr. Purchas to do was to pronounco life extinct. There is reason to believe that the cause of death was a stroke of paralysis. Mr. Mason was born at Kelso, Roxburghshire, Scotland. In early life he was engaged in commercial life, occupying if, post in a bulk in Kelso. Afterwards he decided to study for the Ministry, and entered the Edinburgh University, where he graduated. Whilo residing in Edinburgh, he made the acquaintance and enjoyed the friendship of the celebrated Horatiu# Bonar. Air. Mason was otdained in Edinburgh, in 1849, and was appointed to the charge of the Presbyterian Church in the island of Antigua, West Indies. Before leaving, he married Miss Brockor, who resided in Edinburgh, and the young married couple went out to Antigua, where Mr. Mason was engaged in ministerial work for , seven years, when he returned to Scotland, owing to Mrs. Mason being in indifferent health. After spending a year or two in Scotland they decided to emigrate to New Zealand, and arrived in Wellington in 1&59. Mr. Mason engaged in ministerial duty in the Wairarapa district, and afterwards in that of Turakina for a short time, after which, in 1861, he came on to Auckland. On arriving in Auckland he inaugurated a Presbyterian cause on the western side of the city—the building in Hobson street being the second Presbyterian Church in Auckland. This church was the nucleus of the present church and congregation of St. James's, Wellington street, and of which church Mr. Mason was thus practically the first minister. Some years afterwards Mr. Mason retired from active ministerial duty, and engaged in public teaching in the city, carrying on the educational institution known as the Newton Grammar School, with great success for many years, many of his pupils carrying off public scholarships, and in after life filling important positions. Lately, owing to failing health, he hod given up the Grammar School, and only kept a few private pupils at his private residence, Nelson-street.

Throughout his whole career in Auckland Mr. Mason remained an esteemed and useful member of the Presbytery, occasion ally taking ministerial appointments to assist his old clerical coadjutors. He was a lifelong worker in the temperance cause, and assisted the various temperance organizations in every possible way, and they lose by his death a valued and consistent temperance advocate. Mr. Mason also took a deep interest in matters pertaining to the welfare of the Pros by terian Church, and was secretary of the Lay Preachers' Book Fund. He leaves a widow and two sons and a daughter to mourn their loss. One of the sons, Mr. R. .Mason,. is in the service of the Auckland Gas Company, and the other, Mr. W. Mason, in that of the Bank of New Zealand. The daughter is married to Mr. H. 0. Brown.

The Rov. R. F. Macnicol, of St. James's, as soon as he heard of tlia sad death of his old friend, with kiudl.y thoughtfulness, went over to the residence and administered such consolation as he could to the bereaved widow iind family, upon whom the domestic calamity had come with appalling suddenness.