OBITUARY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 143, 18 June 1891, Page 7

OBITUARY.

Sergt. John Price, who has been many years in the New Zealand police, died at Jlasterton on June 9th from acute bronchitis.

The death is announced of another old JTew Zealand settler, Mr Wm. Bedlington, of the Mauku, formerly of Whangarei. He came out to Auckland from London in 1851 in the ship Victory.

The death ia announced of Chas. Pitt Cholmondley, one of the original founders of Canterbury settlement, who arrived in one of the firsb four ships on the 16th Pecember, 1850. He was sixty-one years of age, and had never married. Death was due to a species of paralysis.

The funeral of the Hon. Mr Petre took place on May 26th, at the family burial place, Mount Somers, Aehburton (Canterbury). The attendance was about 300, including the principal residents of the country, and a number of friends from a distance, who went by special train from Asiiburton.

At Norfolk Island last month a very old Pitcairn Island identity, Mr Buffett, died, aged 94. He had been connected with the ► descendant of the Bounty mutineers for nearly 70 years, having landed on the Pitcairn Island from the English whaler Cyrus in 1822.

A very old identity in the Waikato died a fortnight ago at Mercer. Hβ was a negro, named John Fisher, who used to boast that he was the first white man that went up the Waikato. He was well known about Mercer during the war in 1863, being then engaged on the river boats. Hβ wae then an old man, and is estimated to have been close on 100 years of age at the time of his death.

An old Crimean veteran, Mr Jamea Salt, who died on June 7th at Tauranga, was given a military funeral ab that township by a party of old soldiers. He entered the Sixth Enniskillen Dragoons in 1840, and served with them in the Crimea, and in the charge of the Heavy Brigade at Balaclava, under Sir James Scarletfc. He held the rank of Farrier-Sergeant, and was wounded in the charge and invalided home. Subsequently he served out here in the Waikato war.

John Howard Wallace, one of the oldest Identities in Wellington, died on June 9th from hearb disease, aged 75. Mr Wallace arrived in Wellington in 1840, and took an active part in drawing up a petition to the House of Commons, praying that a Constitution should be framed for New Zealand. .The deceased acted as an auctioneer for many years, and was the principal author of " The Early History of New Zealand."

I. Mr Briggs, of Auckland, chief officer of Site brigantine Linda Weber, which arrived ac Wellington from Rarotonga on June 3, -bad an attack of dysentery on the 15th May, and in spite of all that waa done for "him he could obtain no relief. Being in a very weak condition when the vessel arprived in Wellington harbour, he was taken to the Hospital, where he hae since died. Mr Brigge was an old Auckland boy. He first went to sea in one of Henderson and Macfarlane's vessels. His mother is stated to reside in Parnell and his father will be remembered as a former ranger in the Domain.

Information ha 3 been received of the .-death of Mr William Read Gardiner, fora student at St. John's College, at Santiago, in April last. Mr 'Gardiner left St. John's College in 1886, and proceeded to Edinburgh to study jmedieine, prior to going on a mission to South America. At the time of his death, lie was conducting a mission amongst the Araucanian Indians. On Thursday, June 11, ab his residence, 'Pern Glen, near Howick,. there passed away at the ripe age of seventy-four years, Michael Page, late sergeant in H.M. 13th Light Infantry, whose death will be anourned by all who knew him—a man well known and highly respected. He originally belonged to Woodford, County <*alway, Ireland. The funeral took place On the 14th. Another of the very few old Maori Warriors now left in New Zealand, has passed away at Raglan, the native chief Keropa te Wairangi. He was a famous fighting chief of the Tainui tribe, and waa also closely connected with other tribes belonging to the Raglan side of the WaiJcato River. One of the last great fights in which he took plart was near the Waikato Heads, when the Tainui and other kindred tribes engaged the Waikato and Thames tribes, after a desperate struggle the former gaining the victory. Mr William Henry Connell, barrister #nd solicitor, of this city, died somewhat suddenly ab his residence on June 15th. He had been suffer-

ing from a complication of ailments for some time past, being unable to attend to business, and was under the medical care of Dr. Lewie. It is supposed that it was heart disease which carried him off. Mr Connell was an old Auckland boy, and was the son of Mr W. Connell.anold Auckland resident, partner in the firm of Connell and Ridings, one of the earliest auctioneering firms in this city. He was brought up for the law, and waa in business as barrister and solicitor in Auckland for many years. From 1879 to about 1886 £c was in partnership with Mr E. Cooper, in Vulcan Lane, and subsequently had an office of his own in High-street. He was unmarried, and was a brother-in-Jaw of the late Mr G. P. Pierce.

Mr Peter Mackie died on the morning of June 15th at his residence in HepburnBtreefc. It was in religious circles and in connection with religious work that the deceased

gentleman was be«t knewn. He was an elder and a prominent member of St. James's Presbyterian Church, and his name has been closoly identified with the history of that church since its founding, nearly thirty years ago. Mr Mackie was born at Coupar Angus, Perthshire, Scotland, in 1811, and consequently was in his eightieth year at the time of his death. He arrived in Auckland by the ship Mersey in June 9th, 1861, so that be is entitled to rank amongst the old colonists. He entered into the employment of Mr Thomas Macky, wine and spirit merchant, immediately after hie arrival in Auckland, and remained in that gentleman's service so long as his bodily strength permitted him to discharge the duties of his position. For many years Mr Mackie filled the position of .superintendent of St. James's Sunday-school, and he was loved by teachers and scholars alike. Recently Mr Jackie's health has failed him rapidly, and the drowning of his son Robert in the Wanganui River ia considered to have fastened his end. Mr Mackie was married twice, and had nine children by his first -wifeand four bythesecond. Onedaughteris married to Mr Bloxsome, of the Telegraph Office, while Mr Peter Mackie, one of his sons, is a well known footballer, aad is employed in the litho department of the "Herald " Office. Mr Mackie's end was a peaceful one, and a fitting close to a good and exemplary life.

Mr Thos. Mackay, one of the three memfcers of the commission recently appointed ■to inquire into the native land laws, died on June 13th at the Metropolitan Hotel, Wellington, where he had been staying. Death was due to a weakness of the heart. Deceased was the fourth eon of the late Mr Alexander Mackay, who was a large shipowner residing afc Aberdeen. Mr Thomas Mackay was born at Aberdeen in .1821, and at the time of his death was in Aie 70th year. He was by profession a Civil Engineer, and as such superintending Engineer of the constructed in Ireland by the ■agreat Irish contractor Dargan. Hβ also superintended for Mr Dargan the erection

of the building for the Dublin Exhibition. On the completion of his engagements with Mr Dargan, Mr Mackay was for some time engaged in model farming on his own acount, but this not proving successful he came to New Zealand, and for sometime resided with his eldest brother James at Nelson. About twenty years he entered the service of the New Zealand Government, and had occupied the position of Land Purchase Officer in the Public Works Department, and bad also been a Trust Commissioner for native reserves. In February Jast Mr Mackay was appointed a member of the Commission then tormed to consider the operation of the laws relating to native lands. The other members were Messrs W. L. Rees and James Carroll, and they have submitted their report. A separate report, however, waa to have been sent feo the Government by Mr Mackay. He was preparing this when death interrupts:! him. The deceased gentleman was a widower, and leaves no family. Mr James Mackay, the Native Land agent, is a nephew of the deceased, being the son of his eldest brother, and Mr Alexander Mackay is a nephew being the son of another brother. The deceased waa of genial and liberal disposition, and was respected by a large circle of friends," and by his brother officials.