DEATH OF MR W. CROWTHER.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 64, 16 March 1900, Page 5

DEATH OF MR W. CROWTHER.

It is with sincere regret we announce the death of Mr W. Crowther, M.H.R. for Auckland City, who passed away at his residence at the corner of Eemuera Road and the Ladies' Mile yesterday afternoon about 3 o'clock, at the age of G6 years. Deceased had been unwell for the past two months, and for the last four weeks he had been confined to his bed. His complaint was an internal one, but it appears that lie had a bad attack of influenza at the close of the last session of Parliament, and that aggravated the disease. Dr. Mackellar diagnosed the complaint from which diseased suffered, and therefore his death did not come as a surprise. Mr Crowther was born in Lancashire in 1534. and when a youth was apprenticed to Messrs Hibbert, Platt and Sons, ironworkers, of Olbham. At the time of the Crimean war, Mr Crowther and several other apprentices were told off by the rirm to go

to Russia to fit some machinery. They j were afraid to undertake the duty im-! posed upon them, and determined to J run away. Distant, fields looked green, | and they were attracted thitherwards ; by the Victorian gold rush, landing at | Melbourne about the end of 1553. In j Melbourne Mr Crowther pursued vari- ■ ous occupations, ranging1 from digger : to contractor, and in 1803 he proceeded to Dunstan (Otago), being attracted thither by gold mining prospects. In Otago he engaged in carrying stores to the goklfields. He came to Auckland with shipments of horses from ! Otago on two occasions, and disposed ! of them at Penrose, and eventually made up his mind to start business in Auckland in the livery stable line. In ISC4, with this object in view, Mr Crowther went to Melbourne and got a number of vehicles built suitable for I the Auckland roads, which at that j time were "heavy." Some of the vehicles were so ponderous that the. authorities were afraid to permit them to be landed on the wharf, and they j had to be returned. Eventually he j brought across two "Albert" ears, which will be well remembered by old identities, and one of these he di'ove from Parnell to town. He also started i an Auckland-Ilomuera bus service. At

Parnell deceased had juis -first livery stable, and it was in that district he married his wife (Miss Georgina Stafford. Subsequently he removed to Albert street, and afterwards to Weilesiey street East, where he built up-to-date stables, and carried on a large and extensive business under his personal supervision with success. In March, IStll, Mr Crowther sold out and retired. He then took up his residence at Eemuera, and built a house of 14 rooms.

Mr Crowther always evinced a keen interest in public affairs, and for some years he was a member of the City Schools Committee and the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. 'He was elected Chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board in 1893. For 17 or IS years he r was a member of the Auckland City Council, and was elected Mayor on the 16th November, 1891, unopposed. Mr Crowther won every contest in which he took part, and his elevation to the Mayoral Chair unopposed was an evidence of the esteem in which he was held by his fellowcouncillors and citizens. Under Mr Crowther's two years' presidency as Mayor much was done towards maintaining the beauty of the public parks and recreation grounds. Deceased

also sewed on the University College Council, Auckland College and Grammar School Board, and the Sailors' Home committee. His last good public work was in helping; to organise the local horse fund for the South African war. Deceased was elected three times a member of the House of .Representatives, and he was one of the most energetic of members. Altogether Mr Crowther was one who made his mark in Auckland, and it can honestly be said of him that his word was his bond, and his honesty of purpose could not be questioned. lie had great energy, dogged perseverance, and manliness, and Ins many employees bear testimony to the fair manner in which he always treated them. Deceased leaves a widow and grown-up family well provided for. At a special meeting of the City Council, held last evening, the Mayor (Mi- D. Goldie) announced the death of their "old friend Mr Crowther, longtime Mayor of the city and also a City Councillor," and the Council passed a vote of sympathy with his widow and children in their bereavement. The remains of deceased will be interred to-morrow afternoon, the funeral leaving his late residence at 3.30 p.m.