SUDDEN DEATH.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 245, 15 October 1891, Page 5

SUDDEN DEATH.

DEMISE OF THE REV. P. MASON'

The announcement made in our obituary columns of the death of the Rev. Peter Mason, one of the best known and most respected of old colonists, will be read with vex-y general regret. Mrs Mason states that her husband was in his usual health except that for the last few days he complained of pain in his head. About 6.30 p.m. yesterday he went to a prayer meeti£g at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church and returned home about 8 p.m., when he said to his wife he did not feel well. The deceased appeared to be very ill, and on being put into bed he seemed unable to speak, but tossed to and fro. Dr. Purchas was sent for and arrived about 10 p.m., but by that time Mr Mason was dead, having passed away in a state of unconsciousness. Dr. .Purchas pronounced life to be extinct, and in due course communicated the fact of the death to Inspector Broham. No medical man had attended Mr Mason recently, but Dr. Purchas was satisfied that the cause of death was a severe attack of paralysis, and having certified accordingly the coroner did nob deem ib necessary bo hold an inquest.

The Rev. R. F. Macnicol, of St. James's Presbyterian Church, on being informed of the sad news, went to the residence and conveyed to the sorrowing family his sympathy and spiritual consolation in the time of their distress.

The Rev. Mr Mason passed away ab a good old age, having passed his three score and ten years, and up to the last he appeared to maintain good health and considerable activity. He was born ab Kelso, Roxburgnshire,. Scotland, and as a youth was employed in a banking establishment there. He soon came to tiie conclusion that the ministry was his proper sphere of labour, and entered the University, where he graduated. He was ordained at Edinburgh in 1849, and waa appointed to the charge of the Presbyterian Church at Antigua, Weso Indies. Betore proceeding thither, Mr Mason was "married to Miss Brocker, of Edinburgh, and his wife accompanied him. They remained ab Antigua for about seven years, and eventually returned to Scotland for the benefit of Mrs Mason's health. After a brief rest, they came out to Now Zealand and settled a"b Wairarapa, Wellington, in 1859. Mr Mason was engaged in ministerial work at the Wairarapa and Turakina districts, and in 1861 he came to Auckland, where he was instrumental in the establishment a church, the nucleus of the present St. James's Presbyterian Church. Mr Mason conducted service for some years, and then retired from regular pulpit work to take charge of the Newton Grammar School, an institution which he carried on very successfully for many years. Latterly, however, the deceased gentleman confined hie labours to the tuition of a few private pupils, and to occasional ministerial work, chiefly in connection with the Presbyterian Church. He was an esteemed and useful member of the Auckland Presbytery, and an earnest worke tin the temperance cause. His wife, two sons, and a daughter, are left to mourn his sudden decease—one son, Mr W. Mason, being employed in the Bank of New Zealand, the other son, Mr R, Mason, in the aervioe of the Auckland Gas Company, t>ho daishtor being married to Mr H. 0, Brown