OBITUARY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 239, 8 October 1891, Page 6

OBITUARY.

The death is announced of Mr Stronach, formerly manager of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency.

An elderly woman named Margaret Bird died suddenly at the Thames on October 2nd. She had been drinking heavily.

A Maori named. Mokura, well-known in football circles, died at Kiri Kiri, Thames, on September 18th, after a brief illness.

Mr Geo. Isaacs, an old Aucklander, formerly well known from his connection with the City Hali and Opera House, is dead.

A married woman named Mrs Sudovicy died suddenly on Sept. 21st. Deceased resided on a farm between Kaukapakapa and Kiverhead.

Miss Bischoff, teacher of tho Wade school, died suddenly on September 11. Tho deceased lady had been'in tho the Board of Education for 20 years. Her father resides ab Waiuku.

Mr H. Downing, the Wellington representative of Messrs McArbhur and Co., died on September 21 ab Grafton Road, Auckland. Death resulted from hemorrhage. Deceased was aboub 30 years of age, and highly esteemed by those with whom he was acquainted.

Anobher Aucklander of long standinghas been gatherod bo the great majority in bhe porson of Mrs Preece, of Grafton Road, relict of the lato Mr J. Watham Preece, for many years .Government' Land Purchase Agent in this district. Mrs Preece succumbed to a long and painful illness, botno with greab patience, on September 12th.

A gumdiggcr named John Davidson died ab Novesvillo, near Tairua, on Oct. 6. Deceased was 60 yoars of age, and came to the colony with tho 43rd Regiment. Constable Joyce heard that he was unwall, and made arrangements to remove the man to the Thames Hospital, bub by the time he arrived death had released the man from 1 is difficulties.

Mr John Owen Fletcher, grocer, who died at the Thames on Sept. 10, aged 00, had an adventurous life. When 20 years old he joined Dr. Kane's Franklin search expedition to the Arctic regions, then traded and trapped in bhe Hudson's Bay berribory for somo years, and afterwards hunted for gold in British Columbia and California before coming on to New Zealand.

Captain William George Hingaton, a much-respecbed resident of the Bay of Islands for tho last 51 years, died ab Russell on Sepb. 19, in his 90th year. He formerly commanded English merchant and whaling vessels. A large number ot sottlers attended the funeral, which took place «t Paihia on September 22nd. Flags were at half-mast, a3 a mark of respect for the late captain.

The death of another old sebbler, Mrs M. T. McKenzie, of bhe Hora Hora Valley, Whangarei, occurred on Monday, September 7th. Mia McKenzie had been in failing health of late. She leaves a grown-up family of sons and daughbers, mosb of whom are settled in life. She also leaves her devoted husband, who will feel the loss more than any other member of bhe family, as he ia in rather infirm health.

A man named John Nelson, seventy years of age, died on Supb. 27at the residence of Air A. H. Winder, a settler ab VVaikomiti. The old man has lived alone ab Muddy Creek, Tibirangi, for bho laHb bwenty-five years, and was in the habit of visiting Mr Winder every Sunday, and was on his usual visit when he died. Nelson is supposed to have been possessed of considerable means. The deceased had been suffering from a severe cold and had a bad cough.

The Melbourne "Argus" records the death of Mr Thomas Sidney Hall, of the Ciovvn Lands Department, who has had a noteworthy career in tho colonies. He was born at Port Macquarie, New South Wales, in 1845. and was tbe son of tho late Dr. Thos. Sidney Hall, dental surgeon, and grand-on of the late Mr Andrew Bent, ' father of the Tasmanian press.' He was educated in Hobart. He will be remembered as having been for many years a member of the Auckland Choral Society.

The funeral of Mr James Willis, who for many years was the lessee of the Criterion Hotel, Otahuhu, was largely attended on Oct. 4. Mr Willis had been bub a short timo ill, and his demise was rather sudden. About 37 years ago Mr Willis arrived in bhe colony and settled ab Otahuhu, where he won bhe esteem of the entire community by his amiable and straightforward conduct. He was then manager to Mr Rogers, who kept bhe Commercial, and he conbinued in that employ until the Criterion was built. Upon the retirement of Mr Rogers he became lessee, and has been the genial host of that well-known hotel (with the exception of a few months) for the lasb fourteen years. Mr Willis. was in his fifty-fourth year, and leaves a widow and four grown-up children, by a former marriage.

Another old identity has passed away in the person of the late Mrs John Douglas, at the good ripe age of 79 years. Mrs Douglas arrived here some 32 years ago from England with her husband and family. They first took up their residence at Coromandel, but at the beginning of tho Maori War removed to Auckland, where they resided till bhe opening of bhe Thames Goldfield, when bhey book up bheir abode ab bhat place, and in 1868 her husband was drowned in crossing one of tho rivers bhere. Mrs Douglas has always been a consisbanb and respected member of tho Bapbist Tabernacle, and was beloved by all who knew her. She leaves one son, Mr John Douglas, land agenb of this city, and one daughter, the wife of Mr H. A. Cornlord, solicitor, Napier ; her two eldest daughters, Mrs J. E. Smith, of the Thames, and Mrs C. B. Stone.of bhis city, having predeceased her.

General regret has been expressed in town at the rather sudden death of Mr Robert L. Harrop on September 18bh. The cause of deabh was due bo a sboppage of bowels, which broughb on peritonitis. Deceased was only ill a fortnight. He was well-known in Auckland, and waa in the employ of Arch. Clark and Sons for 16 or 18 years, but latterly joined Mr J. Bridgewater as a partner in his shirt - manufacturing business. Deceased was 38 years or age, and was born at Perth, Scotland. He came to the colonies in 1858, and was the eldest son of the late T. W. Harrop, and a eon in-law of Dr. Wright. The remains were interred on the 20bh in the Purewa Cemetery, the Rev. Mr Burrows officiating at the grave. The funeral was a large one, testifying to the respect deceased was held in by his many friends.

The late Mrs Margaret Kisoling (relict of Archdeacon G. A. Kissling), who died ab her son's residence in Parnell on Sept. 20, was a very old Auckland resident. She was 83 years of age at the time of her death, and had resided in New Zealand for quite half a conbury. About bhe year 1840, bhe date of Auckland's founding, she arrived here from England with her husband, then the Rev. Kissling, to take up the Anglican mission work amongst the Maoris. In tho early days Mrs Kissling had some curious experiences as she accompanied her husband in his missionary journeys, and had gone through many of the vicissitudes of bhe old colonial bimes. Two of her sons are well-known Auckland residenbs, one being Mr Schwartz Kissling and Mr Theo. Kissling, Registrar of Deeds. The inbermenb of bhe deceased lady took place on the 22nd at St. Stephen's Cemetery, Parneli, where the remains of her lata husband lift '

Mr Daniel Rees, builder and contractor, Christchurch, died on October 4th, aged forty-nine. He was formerly member for Stanmore in the House of Representatives, and took great interest in local public matters.

Mrs Jas. Reyburn (jun.), died ab Whangarei on September 7th under circumstances very sad and painful. The deceased lady was only married eight months ago, and the wedding iv;« a moat auspicious one, the bride and bridegroom having grown up in the place and being popular with all classes. On Sunday, September 6th, the deceased was oub with Mr Buckhursb driving, aud was apparently in the besb of health and spirits, and during bhe afb&rnoon she told her mother, Mrs Rust, bhat she felt splendid ; bub at about 7 p.m. tho deceased lady wad seized with labour pains, and shortly afterwards she had a convulsive fit, and though Dr. Bell was early in attendance and did all that medical science could suggest, one lit succeeded another. A stili-born child was born, and the deceased gradually sank, and expired before 8 a.m. next morning, having remained in a comatose state throughout bho nighb. She was just 23 years of age, and was a general favourite. Tho funeral book place on September 9fch, and bhere was a very large cortege of mourners of the public.

The announcement made in our obituary columns of the death of Mr Robert Hampton, a colonist of long standing, will be received with ix fooling of profound regret bymany of our readers. Mr Hampton arrived horo in 1854 by the ship Gipsy, and waß engaged in business iv Short Hind-street for about thirty years, at the expiration of which time he retired. He was for somo years a member of the City Board in tho early days, and was one of tho oldesb members of tho Waitomata Lodge of Freemasons. He originally camo bo New Zealand under medical advice for the benefit of his health, and bhe facb that he lived to bhe advanced ago of 78 yeara speaks well for the wisdom of bho advice then given. The deceased gentleman leaves three daughters, one married to Mr J. C. Williamson, a second married to Mr W. Fricker, Ponsonby, and a third to Mr J. N. Flower, manager of the Bank of New Zealand, Kaikoura. He had thirty-three grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren ; and his many acts of unostentatious recognition of the wants of the poor will keep his memory green in the recollection of many bo whom he from time to time rendered both aid and encouragement.

Another old colonial resident has passed away in bho person of Capbain William Esdaile Thomas, a well - known Parnell resident and old New Zealand Governmentservant. Captain Thomas' figure was a very familiar one aboub Auckland for very many years, and his sudden decease has come as a shock bo his relatives and friends. Captain Thomas had been laid up for somo timo, bub he gob better and was in town on September 25th, apparently in better health aud good spirits. At night ho sab reading, bub after retiring he was suddenly seized with spasms, and before medical assistance could be procured breathed his la3t. Captain Thomas was an old Governmenb officer in this colony, having spent about a quarter of a century in the Government service. In June, 1887, he retired from the Governmenb service on a well-earned pension, bub still carried on a commission and general customs business on hi 3 own accounb until lately. Captain Thomas for some years past held the position of churchwarden in Sb. Mary's -Protestant Cathedral Church, Parnell, and was a strong churchman. He also was a member of the Parnell Borough Council for some timo. Captain Thomas, besides being a culbivabed scholar, took a greab interest in Shakespere's plays, and was one of the principal movers in promoting Shaksperian recitals in Parnell.