DEATH OF MR WILLIAM AITKEN.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 155, 2 July 1901, Page 4

DEATH OF MR WILLIAM AITKEN.

Mr William Aitken, land agent, died at his residence, Roekwood, Mt. Eden, last evening, at the. age of. 71 years. General regret -was expressed when it became known that Mr Aitken had passed away, for during his forty-seven years' residence in this city he had won the respect of all with whom he had come in contact. Mr Aitken was born at Glasgow in IS2G, and after being educated at the high school there he was connected with the firm of Boyd and Sons, calico printers, Glasgow. In 1854 Mr Aitken went out to Sydney, coining on to Auckland next year in the brig Moa. He then commenced business as a land and estate agent, in which he made a handsome competency. His brother Alexander, who had accompanied him from Glas-gow, died shortly after his arrival here, and Mr Aitken, who never married, took upon himself the care of the widow and children. He invested largely in real estate, owning upwards of 150 properties in the Auckland district. He offered gratuitously a section of 7000 acres in the Kaipara .to General Booth as a settlement for the "submerged tenth." Mr Aitken took no part in politics or local government, being of a retiring disposition, but he was very charitable, and was ever ready to subscribe to worthy institutions and objects. He was a member of St. Andrew's Church. He was a vicepresident of the Auckland Club, and was a trustee of the Auckland Savings Bank. About Christmas time Mr Aitken, who had been up till then a very active and well-preserved man, began to fail, and he. quietly commenced to close his affairs. He took to bed a month ago, and though Drs. McKellar and Roberton did all that medical skill . wpuld suggest, he gradually got worse. Yesterday he took a sudden turn for the worse, and .Siea^peaeefully at G. 30 p.m., most of his relatives being gathered at his. bedside. Among his survivingl relatives are his nephews, Messrs Alexander Aitken and Mr Aitken Carriek, and his nieces, Mrs John Richmond and Mrs Aitken Carriek.. ..