OBITUARY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 64, 17 March 1898, Page 5

OBITUARY.

A very old identity, Mrs Elizabeth Heslop, relict of the late Mr John Heslop, died at Napier on Feb. 23, aged 85. She came to the colony in 1556, ana resided in Hawke's Bay over 40 years. The death is announced of Mr Thomas Churches, of Eller.slie, a pioneer settler of the Auckland district, at the age of 82 years. Mr Churches and his wife came out to New Zealand in IS4-2, in the ship St. George, and after some time settled at West Tamaki, where he for very many years had a line farm, which is now in the occupation of members ot his family. In 1888 Mr and Mrs Churches celebrated their golden wedding at their West Tamaki residence. About eight years ago they removed to Ellerslie. Mr Churches leaves a widow, fourteen children, 52 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. Professor Kirk, the well-know n naturalist, died at Plinimerton on March Bth at the age of 70 years, the cause of death being failure of the heart's action. He was born in Warwickshire in 1828, and was brought up at the great Newark timber mills. On coming to New Zealand Mr Kirk classified the flora of the colony, completing the work of Joseph Hooker. For many years he acted as curator to the Auckland museum, and was one of the founders and contributors to the Transactions of the New Zealand Institute. In 1574 Mr Kirk removed to Wellington on receiving the appointment of lecturer on. natural science at the Wellington College, then affiliated to the New Zealand University. He was afterwards appointed lecturer on Biology at the Lincoln Agricultural College, Canterbury, and was subsequently appointed by Mr Ballanee, when Minister for Lands', Chief Commissioner of State Forests. Professor Kirk was engaged at the time of his death in preparing a "Student's Flora of New Zealand." He leaves a family of three daughters and two sons, his eldest son, Mr T. W. Kirk, being the Government Biologist.

The deepest feelings of regret were expressed in the city on Feb. 25th when it became known that Mr Andrew Austin had expired somewhat suddenly in the south of this island. For a long time past the deceased gentleman had been in bad health, and hoping to receive benefit from a sea trip and a change of air he went to Taranaki and journeyed further south a few clays ago. There was no man in this provincial district more widely know than "Andy" Austin in the homes of the settler's North and South. At the stock sale yards in Auckland he was looked upon as almost a part and parcel of the proceedings. Some of his transactions were very extensive in their nature, and his recollection of animals was simply phenomenal. The interment, which took place at the Public Cemetery, Mangere, Avas attended by a very large number of friends and relatives, the funeral cortege, which was headed by a procession of Foresters and Freemasons, being upwards of half-a-mile in length. The chief mourners were Mrs A. Austin and her soes, and the deceased's brothers, Messrs J. J. Austin, R. Austin, and his stepbrothers C. V. Hill and H. Hill. The funeral was under the direction of Bros. A. Kobb and J. J. Shaldrick of the Court Pride of Onehunga Lodge of A.O.F. (of which Mr Austin was a member), Mr Shaldrick reading the burial service of that order. In accordance with the wishes of the deceased gentleman, a Masonic funeral service was afterwards impressively conducted by Captain R. Hichardson, "W.M. of Manukau Lodge of Freemasons, each member of the craft, as customary, depositing a sprig of acacia on the coffin at the close.