OBITUARY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 206, 1 September 1898, Page 3

OBITUARY.

The death is announced of Mr David Hume Christie, an early Canterbury colonist. He was a prominent, member of the Orange Society, and in 1882 represented the New Zealand Orange Lodge at the triennial Council of the Society held in London. .

Mr G. S. Cooper, formerly UnderSecretary for the Colony died at Wellington on the IGth of August, aged 73. He had long been a victim to bronchitis, ■ the disease assuming a critical stage a few dajrs ago. Deceased was a son of the late George Cooper, Colonial Treasurer in 1841-42. He entered the public service in -1841 and filled various positions until 1868, when he was appointed^ Under Secretary for Native .Affairs* and Defence, and his appointment as .Undcjj- Secretary for the Colony came in 1870. He held the latter position up till six years ag-o, when he resigned.

The death is announced of Mr Edward Waters, an old and well-known resident of Auckland. Mr Waters for many years kept the restaurant bearing liis name in Queen-street, and latterly the coffee-palace in Lower Queen-street. He had been in bad health for. some considerable time past, partly the result of an accident which lie had sustained some months ago. His death took place at his house in Greystreet, Devonporfc, on Aug. 23. The late Mr Waters arrived here From England in 1862. He was with the troops in the Waikato during the Maori War,, and afterwards started business in Queen-street. At one time he had considerable interests in business with the South Sea Islands, and had a pearl-shelling ancl trading station on Peni-hyn Island. The deceased, whose interment is private, leaves a widow and grown-up family.

Much regret was expressed at the North Shore on August 23 when it became known that Mr Joseph Dinsdale, the well-known clerk to the Devonport Borough Council, was dead. Mr Dinsdale, who hacl suffered from heart disease for some tune past, was found dead in bed at his residence this morning-. He was 53 years of age at the rime of his death. He was a native of England, where his father still resides. Mr Dinsdale bad been clerk to the Devonport Borough Council since 1886, when the Borough was first formed, and when Mr Malcolm Niccol became the first Mayor. He was a most faithful and painstaking servant of thcwßorough and never spared himself in his exertions as Town Clerk. In fact, he frequently overworked himself,, and as he Avas a man of weak frame and disposed to heart disease, his devotion to work did not lengthen his days. t The funeral took place on the 24th in he O'Neill's Poiut Cemetery, Avas attended by the Mayor and Council ancl many officials ancl ex-officials of the borough, and by 'personal friends and members of the Theosophical Society. The funeral service was conducted solely by the Theosophical Society, the first occasion in this city on which'that has occuz-red. Mr S. Stewart, President of the Auckland branch, gave a short address, pointing out that the Society had no formula or ritual for such an occasion. He referred to the idea held by Mr Dinsdale that so far as the world was concerned, a man's life was of more importance than his beliefs. Mrs Drallin, President of the Waitemata branch, to which deceased belonged, read some favourite lines of his from Sir Edwin Arnold's song " Celestial," and said that to him were applicable the ethical precepts of Theosophy, "A clean life, an open mind, a pure heart, an eacjer intellect, an unveiled spiritual perception, a brotherliness for all, a readiness to give and receive advice, and instruction, a courageous endurance of personal injustice, a brave declaration of principles, a valiant defence of those who are unjustly attacked, ancl a constant eye to tlie ideal of human profress'ion and' perfection—the golden stairs, up the steps of which the learner may climb, to the Temple of Divine Wisdom." '■■■