DEATH OF MR D. B. CRUICKSHANK.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 118, 16 May 1895, Page 6

DEATH OF MR D. B. CRUICKSHANK.

A well-known and highly-respected citizen, Mr David B. Cruickshank, died suddenly on Wednesday evening, May Bth, ab his residence in Romuera. Mr Cruickshank, who was very well known as a merchant; and as tho Chairman of the Northern Steamship Company, had been at business in the city all day, and the news of his unexpected death surprised his friends greatly, as when he left town in bhe evening for his home ha appeared to bo in hia usual health. Tha late Mr Cruickshank arrived at his residenca in Remuera shortly before six o'clock, having lefb town by bho ii-/o o'clock train. He had dinuer wibh Mrs Cruickshank and family. Some bime niter dinner, while sitting quietly with hie family, he complained of a pain nb hia heart. Ho at. first told his wife bhab he thought it was only a alight abback, bub the p«in increased in intensity, and at 8 o'clock, a-quarter of an hourat'terhe first) complained, he suddenly expired, presumably from an affeobion of tho heart. Mrs Cruickshank telephoned to Ur. Haines, who was oub ab Remuera in less than half an hour. Ho arrived too late, however, to bo of any service. Mr James Macfarlane, who was a personal friend of Mr Cruickahank and a co-direcbor in bhe Northern Sbeamship Company, and Mr Ranson, manager of the Northern Company, who bobh live at Remuera, wenb to bho residence of the deceased as soon as they beard the unforbnnabe news, and attended to matters for Mrs Cruickshank, who was quite prostrated by bbc shock. Mr John Taylor, contractor, of Sydney, who was an old friend of the deceased, and who happened to be in Auckland, also wenb oub to visit Mr Cruickshank, o« hearing that he was taken suddenly ill, bub on his arrival ho found Mr Cruickshank dead. "Dursng-the evening.Mr Ranaon telegraphed-

bo Capbain H. F. Anderson, one of tha directors of the Northern S.S. Company, who is now in Wellington acquainting hint, wibh bhe news of Mr Cruickshanks death. For several months past Mr had been occasionally subject to giddy Ma. sometimes accompanied by pam in the ehesb. which he thought was due to mdigestion. On Sunday morning he started for church ab Re-_uera wibh hw boys, and waa suddenly attacked by a pun in bne chest which prevented bim from going on. fie sab down on a bank and waited till his sons came back from church. On Monday he saw Dr. Haines, and on the following (lay ho told him be still had a pain in the chest, but in other respecta was in the besb of health. On Wednesday Mr Cruickahank abtended to ma business aa usual, and had lunch with Mr Ranson, manager of the Northern Steamship Company. Shortly before four o'clock ho wenb across to the office of the Northern Steamship Company, i» order'*o see whether there was anything requireaor, him in hia capaciby aa chairman ot directors. After speaking to one or two mendshe lefb for his home ab his usual hour. Mr Cruickahank leaves a widow, woo is a daughber of the late Mr Robert Grabam, and four sons and one daughter. Abe. eldest ia aboub 21 years of age, and bho youngest an infanb. Mr Cruickshank s surviving brother ia Mr George Cruickshank. formerly of Cruickebank and Miller, who v now farming at Te Awamutu... A married aister of the deceased resides in _iiesbire, Scotland. The deceased, who was an old rcsidenb of Auckland, having arrived here over thirty yoars ago, lived a quieb me, and took no prominenb parb in public affairs. He was 53 years of age. He^was a nabivo of St. Andrew's, Fifeahire, Scotland, where he was educated. In bis early life he came oub bo New Zealand, arriving' ii. Auckland in the year 1864. Hie brother James came oub in 1858, and commenced business in Queen-streeb with Mr Jamee Smart aa imporbera and general ironmongers. Mr David Cruickshank joined bhis firm in 1867. Soma years later Mr Smart retired, and the business waß carried on under the tible of Cruickshank and Co. After Mr James Cruickshank a deabh Mr David Cruickshank continued bhe business under tho same title. As Chairman of Directors of the Northern Steamship Company, Mr Cruickshank kepb a keen oye on bhe welfare of bhis flourishing local shipping concern, and only the other day ho presided ab the annual meeting 01 shareholders in the Compsny._ He was, many years ago, associated with Captain McGregor in" the building of the s.s, Bowena for tho coasting trade, this being the first vessel of whab afterwards becamebhe Northern s.s. Company. The deceased acted up bo the time of his death as Consulor agenb for France, Hawaii and Chili ab bhis porb. He was also Chairman of Directors of bhe New Zealand Accident) Insurance Company, and local direcbor of tho National Insurance Company, and a trustee of bho Auckland Savings Bank, and was, in addition, one of tho local agents for tho Shaw, Savill and Albion Shipping Company, axenb for the P. and 0. line and for bho Eastern and Australian Steamship Company. The eldest son of bho deceased is a cadet on Mr Proud's farm ab Bombay. Dr. C. H. Haines made a post mortem examination of bhe deceased, and ascertained thab the cause of death was syncope, due to degeneration of tbe vessels of tbe heart, or atheroma. The deceased and his elder brobher, Mr William Cruickshank, who died fourteen months ago, were married to two sisters, both being Misses Graham. Thefuneial of the late Mr D. B. Cruickshank, which took place on May 10th, waa one of the largest which has ever baken place in Auckland, testifying to tha respect in which deceased waa held by all classos of the community. The coffin was made of polished oak with silver mountings, and the "plate bore the following inscription :—"David Boosio Cruickahank. Died Bth May. 1895 ; aged 53 years." The coffin waa covered with beautiful wreathe. Among tho many who sent wreaths were the office staff of the Northern S.S. Company, Mr Chaa. Ranaon, Mrs Ranaon, Captain Anderson, Mr J. Cruickshank (Levin and Co., Wellington), Captain Babot (Wellington), New Zealand Accident Insurance Co., National Fire Insurance Co., and Mutual Assurance Socieby of Vicboria. Tbe firsb carriage of the cortege contained the chief mourners—George Cruickshank (brother), three sons of deceased (Boosie, Andrew and Craig), and Jarne-. Macfarlauo ; tho second carriage contained Messrs Graham Cruickshank, and W. Cruickshank (nephews), Rev. W r. Baabby (incumbent of St. Mark's), and John Taylor; 3rd, Thomas Russell (accountant), and W. C. Somers (of office staff of deceased's firm of Cruickshank and Co.); 4bb, Messrs W. S. Wilson (director) and Charlea Ranson (manager of the Northern Steamship Company) ; sth, John Coutts (superinbondenb engineer), Captain Farquhar (a.s. Clansman), Capbain Stevenson (s.s. Wellington), F, F. Kerr (Secretary of the Northern S.S. Company), 6th, W. Laird (chief engineer Clansman), T. E. Brewer (chief engineer Wellington), C. Fox (wharf office clerk), A. Barnes 'Onehunga agent) : 7th, Captain Smith, Messrs Mnrkwick, Seagar Brothers and Woodhouse ; Stb, direcbors of the New Zealand Accident Insurance Company, Thomas Buddie, R. C, Carr, C. B. Stone, F, Bnbbley, P. A. Edmiston (general manager); 9bb, H. A. Marriner, N. Waddell (of office staff); lObh, National Insurance Company, by Wm. Taib (local manager) and Mr Robinson ; 11th, Mutual Assurance Society of Victoria, by E. T. Gould, districb agenb; I2bh, M. Niccol (Chairman of tho Harbour Board), A. Rose (Collector of Customs), and Mr W. McLaughlin (Papaboitoi); 13bh, Auckland Savings Bank trustees, viz., C.C. McMillan, T. Poacocko, W. S. Cochrane, W\ S. Laurie, J. H. Upton, A. Boardman, T. Paton, J. Reid, J. T. Boylan, and 11. Cameron (manager); 14bh, Thomas Henderson (locd manager Union Steamship Company), C. V. Houghton (local manager New Zealand Shipping Co.); 15th, N. Alfred Nathan (of L. I). Nathan and Co.), nnd Sanderson (represenbative Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company) : 16l;h, Jobson (Government Inspector of Machinery), G. J. Pirie (Amalgamated Engineers' Society).

Among tha many in the cortege wero Dr. Haines, Dr. King, Profosaor Carollo, Messrs Jaa. Miller, W. Aibken, Alfred Kidd, Edwin Hesketh, Samuel Hesketh, Thos. Morrin, John Kirkwood, L. Ehranfried, J, J. Craig, J. M. Lennox, Clias. Ca,uniug, George Fraßer, Arch. Clark, Matthew Clark, H. Roes George, D. Nolan, Alfred Buckland, R. Hollaby, W. Hollaby, E. Wibhy, T. Thompson, H. C. Tewaloy, Thos. Finlayeon, L. A. Bachelder, K. Johnston, Hugh Campbell, F. R. Claude, J. H. M. Carpenter, A. Holden, J. R. Gray, P. Darby, W. Winstone, F. B. Winsbone, D. Roes, D. Gouk, W. S. Whitley, W. T. J. 8011, W. A. Ryan, G. Lewia, J. B. Gilfillan, S. Jackson, Thomas Hill, W. Crowbher, Hon. E. Mibchelaon, G. McCaul, Major Pirie, Captain Steinmann (ship Wolverene), Captain Perry (ship Forfarshire) and.Neaio (chief officer), Archdeacon Dudley, Canon Nelson, Monsignore McDonald, Rev. Shirley Baker, Mr Ranaon, manager of the Northern S.S. Company received belegrams from all parbs of tho colony expressive of regret; ab the death of Mr Cruickshank. The Countess of Glasgow sent a letter of condolence to the widow.