OBITUARY.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 143, 18 June 1887, Page 6

OBITUARY.

We regret to have to announce the death of Mr Stephen Edward Hughes (the senior partner of the firm of Hughes and Georgej solicitors), at his residence at Shelly Beach Road, on ' the-30th Hit.. The deceased gentleman first saw >few Zealand about the year 1841, when, as paymaster's clerk, he visited this country in H.M.S. Hagard, hAng present at the battle of Kororareka, in which he served as volunteer. He leaves a widow two sons (married and living in Auckland), daughters, one married to Mr George.

' Mr F. A. Whitaker, former member of Parliament for Waipa, and eldest son of Sir Frederick Whitaker, shot himself in the board room of the Auckland Club on Thursday evening, the 9th instant. The bullet had penetrated the upper part of the forehead, and passing through the brain, had cracked the bone at the back of the skull, .but had not emerged. His three brothers —Messrs A. E. Whitaker, Harry Whitaker and E. Whitaker--arrived shortly after the sad occurrence, but the unfortunate gentleman did not recognise them, and expired at 5 minutes past six—4o minutes after the -firing of the shot. He was Sir Frederick's eldest son, and was born at Pernambuco, South America, in 1847, while his parents were on a trip from this colony to England. He returned to New Zealand as a child, bub at the age of nine was sent to the Old Country to be educated, and after passing through a scholastic course at Marlborough and Westminster Schools, commenced to study for the legal profession and was called to the bar Of the Inner Temple before he was 21. Returning to New Zealand, he practised his profession herefirst at the Thames in partnership with Mr J; E. Macdonald, now Chief Judge of the Native : Lands Court, afterwards at Coronmndel, and in 1874 at Waikato,' with which district his interests have been bound up ever since. He became very largely interested in speculations in native land, and was also the owner of the " Waikato Times," one of the most flourishing country newspapers in the colony. In 1878 he contested the Waipa in Parliament, but was defeated by Mr E.. G. McMinn. At the next general election he was elected, and sat for several years. He was a keen politician, and though not by any means eloquent, was well up in Parliamentary tactics, and was invaluable as whip to the Government of which his father was the head. A coroner's inquest into, tho circumstances attending the death of the, deceased was subsequently held. At the conclusion of the evidence the jury returned the following verdict: —" That deceased met his death from a shot from a revolver : whether discharged accidentally or otherwise there is not) sufficient evidence to determine."

The- Very Rev. Monsiernore Fynes died on the afternoon of the- 16th instant. The deceased priest had laboured in the colonies for nearly forty years, and in this district since 1849. Hβ was a man. of singularly genial and cheerful disposition, broad in his sympathies, homely in his tastes, simple in his habits, and without the slightest trace of the bigot or fanatic in his character. He was sympathetic rather than austere, conciliatory rather than aggressive. He loved to be on friendly terms with everybody, and hie great popularity showed how* amiable' qualitios of heart and mind had won for him "" golden '''opinions from all sorts of people."" His goodhumoured face, portly figure, and unfailing cordiality of manner, will be sadly missed. Henry James Fynes wasborn in London in the year 1822, so that he was 65 at the time of his death. ,

It is with sincere regret that we have to record the death of Mr J. P. Qxley, which took place at his residence, Hardinge-street, on June 3. Mr Oxley, who was a native of Prince Edward Island, arrived here with a party of settlers from that colony about thirty years ago, and at once established a manufactory of blocks pumpsy and other shipping appliances. This business was subsequently amalgamated with that of his sons, Messrs J. and D. Oxley,ship-chandlers of the Queen-street wharf. Mr Oxley was of a genial kindly disposition, and no man was better known or more personally popular in shipping circles. Except for an affection of the sight which produced partial blindness,he enjoyed very good health until recently. He was 68 years of age. In token of respect for the memory of the deceased all the vessels in port hoisted their flags half-mast high. The funeral took place on June 4.tho services at the house being conducted by* the Rev. R. 1" , ., Macnicol, of St. James's Presbyterian Church, under whose ministrations the deceased gentleman had sat for nearly twenty years. The funeral cortege, numbering between two and three nundred friends, left at four o'clock, the chief mourners being the deceased's sons, Messrs John W., Daniel, and George P. Oxley, Mr Thomson W. Leys, three of the deceased's grandsons, Mr W. Leys, Mr, J. M. Brigham, Captain Nearing, and Mr' A. McLeod. The services at the grave were conducted in a most impressive manner by the Rev. R. F. Macnicol and the Rev. D. W. Runciman. The remains were interred in the Presbyterian Cemetery, Symondsstreet, side by side with those of Ins wife, who died seventeen years ago.

j Mrs Madden, a colonist of 40 years' standing, and relict of the late Mr Charles Madden, is dead.

i Geo. H. Merston, a veteran of the Maori war of 1845, has just died at Christdhurch. / ; ;