OBITUARY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 286, 3 December 1930, Page 3

OBITUARY.

MR. JAMES DUNCAN. The death occurred in Auckland on Monday, after a long illness, of Mr. James Duncan, retired Assistant Director of-Agriculture, whose last years were spent in Auckland and Hamilton. Mr. Duncan was in Wellington when he retired in 1018, but was stationed in Auckland for many years before being transferred to the capital. He-was born in Dunedin in 1852, being the eldest son of the lato Mr. John Duncan, of Cherry Farm, Waikouaiti, and Corner Bush, Dunedin. Ho is survived by his widow and the following children: Messrs. K. J. and J3. C. Duncan, , of Auckland, D. J. Duncan, of Gisborne, R. Deck, 'if Takapuna,; and Mrs. Honour, of Auckland. There are twelve grandchildren.

Tim. J. R. McMillan

One of the early settlers at Waipu, Mr. John Robert McMillan, died at New Lynn towards the end of last week, aged 88 years., He arrived in New Zealand from Nova Scotia 77 years ago by the ship Gertrude with his parents, who took up land at Waipu. As a youth Mr. McMillan tried his luck on Thames goldfield, but was not fortunate. Later in life he took up a silver claim at Puhipuhi, north of Whangarei, after which he was farming at Whangarei and on the Hauraki Plains. He was one of the first directors of the Whangarei Dairy Association Company, and of the A. and P. Association in that district. Six yearsago he went to live at New Lynn." He is survived by Mrs. McMillan and live sons, two daughters. ' The eldest eon was -killed in France. Following are the surviving children: —Mr. B. McMillan, Hauraki Plains; Mr.. G. D. McMillan, Paeroa; Mr. A. M. McMillan, Whangarei; Mr. R. R. McMillan, Thames; .and Mr. 0. R. McMillan, New Lynn; Mrs. A. J. McKay, Whangarei; and Mrs. A. St. J. Dignan, Mount Eden.

MR. JAMES ERSKINE BISSETT

I - (By , Telegraph.—Own' Correspondent.) WHANGAREI,' this day. . One of the finest pioneer personalities of this district was removed by the death this morning of Mr. James Erskine Bissett, aged 75 years. He was a lad, of 17 when he accompanied his family from Tasmania, his birthplace, and landed in Aucklan'd in 1872, In 1881 he shifted to Whangarei, and as a building contractor lie constructed many of the earliest homes, and also tho Maungataper© and Otonga schools. I'n 1894 he took Tip a Government block of land at Opuawhanga, and built his own home. Some years later he erected a sawmill, which he conducted in conjuiicj'tion with dairy farming.