OBITUARY.

Auckland Star, Volume 55, Issue 95, 22 April 1924, Page 5

OBITUARY.

MR. JOHN LOWDEN. FORMER MAYOR OF MATAURA. A' gentleman who was closely associated with the public affairs of Mataura, Mr. John Lowden, died yesterday, aged 79 years. Deceased resided with his son, the Rev. ,T. Lowden, Minister of St. Enoch's Presbyterian Church, Morningsidc. Mr. John Lowden was born at County Durham, England, and learned engineering at his father's ironworks Sunderland. He came to Lyttelton in the ship Taranaki with his brothers in 1-79. After working at Oamaru for some time, Mr. Lowden went to Mataura to erect the machinery at the paper mills. He was appointed to take charge of the plant, and in 1885 started on his own account as an engineer. He took great- interest in the progress of Mataura being associated at one time or another, with most institutions there. He was a commissioner of the Town Board, and first member of the Mataura Borough Council, and was Mayor for ten years. Mr. Lowden was also a member of the Southland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, and represented Gore, Mataura, and Wyndham on the Bluff Harbour Board. For 40 years Mr. Lowden was an elder of the Presbyterian Church at Mataura and for 10 years, secretary of the school committee, and also at one time was chairman. He retired from public life in June, 1921, and came to Auckland with his wife about a year ago. Deceased is survived by his wife, now in her 80th year, and the following children, Mrs. R. U. Fulton, Mrs. E. Townshend, Rev. J. Lowden, Messrs. E. W., and C. Lowden!