OBITUARY.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9272, 25 November 1895, Page 2

OBITUARY.

MR MARMADUKE DIXON.

We regret to have to reoord the death, on Friday, 15th iust., of Mr Marmaduke Dizon, of West Eyreton. He had been for some time Buffering from heart disease and congestion of the lungs, bub was not supposed to be dangerously affected until the previous Tuesday, wheu he came into town in order to be near medical advice. Hβ was taken to Mrs Rowan* Nursing Home in Durham street, where he received every I care and attention. Dr. Print had been attending him. The deceased gentleman wu the third son of the late Mr J. G. Dizon, of Caiator, Lincolnshire. In the same County, and nob many miles away, was born the late Lord Tennyson ; and it may be mentioned that the original of the "Northern Farmer" of the lace laureate's well known poem, was an old farmer named Skipworth, who was the late Mr Dizon'e nncle. The young man to whom the Northern Farmer addresses his advice married the sister of Mr Dizon's father. The latter was well known among the founders of the now popular Shorthorn breed of cattle. Old paintings of bulls, fathers of the herd, are now in the possession of the family. At the age of thirteen Mr Dizon went to sea, " sailing as an apprentice under the late firm ot Robert Brooks and Co. He remained in their service for seven years, during whioh time he obtained consecutively third and second mates, *nd master's certificates. His vessels traded mostly to Melbourne, and he has often been heard to make the proud boast that at one time there were 400 ships in Port Phillip harbour with scarce a man on board, having all deserted to go to the goldfields, while his own men remained loyal to their ship. His captain offered him money and opportunities to join in the general rash for gold that bad just then set in, but he regarded himself as sacredly bound by hie agreement with the owners to stick to the ship, and in the height of the gold fever he achieved the phenomenal task of bringing away hie crew from Pore Phillip, and that despite the fact that they knew they would have to pump the crazy old vessel all the way Home. Hie devotion to duty was such, however, that he-bad-great influence with the officers as well as the men. An episode of his boyhood days briogs to light other of his prominent characteristics, those of courage, determination, fairness, and kindness, which were so frequently manifested throughout his after life. On hie first voyage, at the age of fourteen, his ship was wrecked at Pernambnco, and he, as midshipman, found himself in charge of a party of his own chip's oww returning to England by the celebrated

clipper ship SwordfMh, under the sail more fcmons martini captain of shat day, Green. One day in the tropics Captain Green rope s ended a small boy belonging to the ship- ; wrecked crew who were travellm* Home a, 1 naseeneere. On hearing of it Mr Dixou, who it must be remembered was only fourteen veara of age, called on to the deck the captain, crew, doctor, and all others on board. Pulling off the boy's shirt, and showing it; *o those present, he told Captain Green he oucht to be ashamed of himself, and would have to pay for what be had done when he got to England. Optain Greeu. thinking to bounce Mr Dixoa called him a young blackguard, and said he would ropß'a-end him too. Mr Dixon replied, " You will have to pay a high prica for your ropes-ending, aud when I get you to Liverpool I will take you before a Magistrate." The outcome of the affair was that the captain had to pay the boy £5 for the assault. After spending seven yeara at sea he saw that the opening for progress was not good enough for hia liking, aud he determined to come to Isew Zealand. Prior to leaving England he was offered the command of Bishop Selwyn a yacht, the old Sunbeam, but its departure being delayed he sailed to New Zealand on his own account. He took up the run between the Waimakariri and Eyre rivers, occupied by him up to his death, and with characteristic regardlessness of personal inconvenienca he placed hie whare in the middle of the manuka scrub, with which the run tfae covered, so a 9 to be equi-dist&nt from his sheep oa all sides. Many a time he carried a bucket of water iv each hand four miles through the mmuka. At this place, single- , handed, he dug his now-famous old well, some 84ft deep, without obtaining the reward he deserved for his patienoe and pluck. At this time he was in partnership with Sir John Hall, so far as the sheep were concerned. After living in the manuka for five years he removed to the present aiteof ttie Eyrewell homestead. Iv 1859 he went to England, where ho was married to a daughter of the Rev. Richard Wood, of Wensaydale, Yorkshire. On his return he took to politics, aud was a member of the old Provincial Council of Canterbury the whole time it was in eristeuce, with the exception of one session. Hβ took an active part in obtaining for the people of Canterbury a large portion of the reserves for public parks and gardens which are now bo highly valued. For eight years he held the position of Chairman ot three Road Boards at the same time, hia energy and ability always being at the service of the public. He also did a large amount of superintendence at the opening up and laying out of roads when the Ashley. County was founded. For a number of years past, he however, devoted himself strictly to hia private affairs, but was always given more to the improving of his property than to the making of money. Some three years ago he took up a large piece of manuka country adjoining his freehold, with the object of imj proving it by irrigation, but in his philI arithropy and public spiritednesa he did not meet with the co-operation and assistance he . deserved, from the Government or otherwise, not even from a Government professing to be the friends of the people and of progress. Between the years 1891 and 1893 he carried on a memorable battle with the local Water Supply Board. Having to be out at all times and m all weathers, and suffering disheartening treatment, undoubtedly laid the seeds of the disease which " eventually caused his death. Many a time when he ought to hare been in bed taking care of himself he was out and occupied ia carrying on a fight which he considered was a hundred times more in the interests of the district than of himself. Being essentially a man [ of progress the late Mr Dixon took an active interest in agricultural matters, and in conjunction with Mr Thomas Paahby, he ! assisted to found the Northern A. and P. , Association. In those early days he recognised the advantage of a plough that would run without sole-plates, and gave a prize of £20 for a two-furrow plough made without them, aud it waa won by Mr Keetley, then of K'liapoi. That was tho design of the principle now universally adopted in plough construction of skew-wheels, now used on colonial and many English ploughs. In about the year 186& he imported twelve three-furrow Howard ploughs which were used successfully on his own place and many others in North Canterbury, and for quality, of iwork .and lightness of draught those ploughs have not been improved upon. Mr Dixon was likewise one of the first men in Canterbury to own a steam threshing machine, and also one of the first to demonstrate the possibility of shipping home wheat in corn sacks, it having previously been exported in iron tanks. An implement, which is now in general use in carrying out all public and private excavations h> New Zealand—the common scoop plough—was introduced into Canterbury by Mr Dixon, who had heard of their use in Australia, and to the best of his ability endeavoured to persuade the old Provincial Council to import two of them. After a great deal of persuasion, the Council agreed ou the condition that if they were a failure Mr Dixon paid for them himself. The sooops were imported and were voted an utter failure. One of them is still to be found on Mr Dixon'a property; but, strange to say, thousands of others are in use all over the country. In the death of Mr Marmaduke Dixoa, Canterbury loses one cf her founders, a man whose sterling character haa been a valuable example to the younger generations. He was of a most kindly disposition, and if be made an enemy, that enmity did not last. long, but generally turned to warm friendship, so generous and fair was his method o! fight; ing. He leaves a widow and grownup family of two sons and two daughters. Hie funbral which took place at the Eyre ton Churchyard was largely attended. We have to record the death of another of our New Zealand pioneere, Mary Ann- Jackson Hughes, who passed away at the advanced age of eighty, at St. Martin's, Opawa. Bora in Birmingham in 1815, the deceased arrived in Sydney at the early age of nine! She, with her family, arrived in Wellington twelve months after her husband, landing on Potone Beach in 1840. They lived in a thatched whare between Apuri Spur, and Hntt river. They removed to Wellington when it was surveyed and formed into a settlement. After three attempts at building a house, each of which were frustrated bf the Maoris cutting down the beams, Ac, a house waa erected at Taitai, whence the family removed, only to remain a short while, as the Maori war soon broke out; when everything was ransacked or destroyed, even the forest trees being levelled. While Mr Thos. Jackson Hughes was in the house endeavouring to keep the Maoris at bay, Mrs Jackson, with her family, was hiding in a hollow tree which had been picked ouo for such an emergency some time before. All the other white men were away in Wellington for provisions. After such an experience the white women and children were forced to seek refuge in Wellington, while this house waa made a stockade for the soldiers. Now, being part of the pah, it ia ocoupied by Maoris. Some time after, having built the Travellers' Rest, the family returned to the Taitai. In 1848 Mr Hughes came to I'or. tCopper, and next year was followed by his wife and family iv a small vessel commanded by Captain Sinclair. Mr Hughes had the contract for digging the foundations of the barrack*, making the jetty, roads, Ac. The family, haa reaided in Canterbury ever since. Mrs Hughes has lived to see three generations born in New Zealand. She leaves four children, thirty grandchildren, and thirty-five great grandchildren, all but two of whom are atill in New Zealand. Another of New Zealand's- pioneere passed away, when Mr William M. Thomson, the owner of Norwood Estate, died at hia residence near Burnham, on October 28th The deceased gentleman came to this colony in the late fifties. Of a good family ia Scotland, he, soon after finishing his education, decided to try his fortunes in Canada. After spending a few years there, he took passage co Australia, where he had some striking experiences of life npon the goldfloldi. BU was one of the first to find gold in quartz in Australia. Returning from » short visit to England, he for some time managed with eminent success the Melbourne business of Mrs Proudfoot, widow of the wellknown contractor. Oα the discovery of gold in Otago Mr Thomson came to New Zealand, and was successful in striking an exceptionally good claim in Gabriel's Gully. While here be was entrusted by a number of miners to carry over to Melbourne and sell a large parcel of gold. This commission he executed free of cost to the men. He then saw the possibilities of a trade in horses between Melbourne and New Zealand, and brought over several large shipment*, the

animals realising vary high prioes. Hβ nex& turned his attention to supplying the southern markets with cattle. After nunag. ing for some time she run of the late Mr Bouldev, in Otago, Mr Thomson paid a viait tn England, and then decided to aaltle down. He purchased the property now known as the Norwood Estate, and made it a moat flourishing homestead. About; eighteen months ago he disposed of his pro. party. About twelve months were spent by him at Sutnner and Auckland, and ther Norwood comio; again into the market his love for the old home asserted itself, and he repurchased the property. He leaves a wife and grown up stepdaughter to mourn their 1033, and he will long be remembered by a very large circle ot friends who ad« mired the ciiarity, combined with the strong sense of justice and intense love of truth, which were the marked characteristics of his nature. Many of our readers will learn with. regret of the death, which took place on November Ist, of Misa Lavinia Taylor. The deceased lady had been for a number of years well known in musical circles and waa an expert and beautiful player on the English concertina. It is with regret we have to record the death of another very old colonist Mr 0. A. Denby, who peacefully joined the majority on October 29th. The de« ceased was born at Shoreham, in Sussex in 1826, and was educated at a private boarding school, afterwards obtaiuing « good appointment in the Queen's Printing iffice. But, being of a roving disposition he sailed for New Zeaknd in the Cornwall , arriving »t Nelson in 1847, and Lytteltod Che next year in Captain Peacock's Torring. ton. The ouly residence on this side the Port Hills then was Mr Deans , , at Riccartoß. Mr Denby took up land* oa what is now the Papanui road, and after, wards, in partnership with Mr Alfred Weston, a run at the Styx. Some time after ha moved to Oxford, where he was the firs* Clerk to the Road Board. In 1872 he wm appointed Clerk of Works to the Provincial Government, and, amongst otheq works, h« had charge of the Ashley, Saltwater Creels and Waimakariri Gorge bridges. When the provinces were abolished Mr Denby wu sent to Oxford as »tation master, and he remained in the . Railway service until six years ago, when he retired and settled in Christchnrch. Although not taking an active part in politics, he was strongly opposed to most of the legislation of the present Government. He was strictly honest and straightforward, and of a moat genial disposition. He will be sadly misted! by a large circle of relations and acquaint tances. He leaves a widow and grown up family, moat of his sons holding appointments in the Railway service.—Mr Thomas Fincham, the well-knowu farmer in the Elle«mere district, passed away on Friday last, after a shore illness. The deceased came out to Canterbury in 1854, and was engaged for some ten years in running a trading boat in company with his bioiuer and the late Thos. Reeve from the several Peninsula Bays to Akaroa. The deceased came up to the Eliesmere district, and took up part of his late farm in 1865 in the part known as Sedgemere. The late Mr Fincham was well-known and respected in the district. Ho leaves a family of four son? and one daughter. The remains of the late Mr Joseph Beri were interred in the Tetnuki Cemetery iv the presence of a veri large number of friends and the general public. Deceased was for many years a member of the Temuka Rifles, and he waa buried with military honours. The members of the Fire Brigade and of the Loyal Alexandrovna Lodge, 1.0.0. F., also took part in the ceremony. The Volunteer officers present, were—Major loung and Lieutenant White (unattached), Captain Cutten, Lieutenants Whitehead and Findlay, and Staff-Sergeant-Major Jones ia charge of the firing party. Wβ regret to have to record the deatb of another old resident in the, per. son of Mr James Stark, of Spreydon. Mr Stark was a native of Scotland, being born in Glasgow in 1834, and came out to Victoria in the year 1853, but instead of engaging in the searoh for gold, as he at first intended, he commenced' carting goods to the diggings. He was for some engaged with a contractor at Bask Creek. He afterwards came to Otago, and spent some yeara in importing horses from Victoria and Tasmania. 'He took up hie residence in Canterbury aboub thirty-two or thirty-three years ago, and re-entered his old business of a carrier, and among his early jobs was the carting of stores to the Lyttelton lighthouse. He relinquished this for horse dealing, turning hie attention chiefly to supplying.with teams the eettlere who were taking up land on the plains, In later years he took a less active part id business, bub his practical knowledge of draught stock was often made use of by Agricultural and Pastoral Associations for whom he acted as a judge. He was a shrewd man of business, and by bis perseverance and thrift he amassed a fortune, amounting, it ia reported, to upwards of £50,000... The late Mr Stark had been in failing health for some time past, bu*> was at the Riccarton racecourse on the New Zealand Cup Day. Hβ succumbed, at 3.30 a.m. ou Nov. loch, the immediate cause of death being an internal complaint. He was close upon sixty-two years of age, and uumarried, but leaves a number of relatives., . The Hawera Star, referring to the late Mr George Maule, who died at Hawera, says :—"Although his residence in Hawera waa of comparatively short duration, Mr Maule as a business man and socially had earned the respect and confidence of the people of the district with whom he had come into contact, and there will be general sympathy with hie widow and family. Mr Manle, with his wife, came to New Zealand many years ago, and in the time of the Thames mining activity was ia business u,t, Grahometown, where he nude a considerable ; amount of money. However, times ohengod and Mr Maule'a fortune also, and' the depression in Auckland drove him to Canterbury, where he ongaaed in the seed and grain business, to which he had been brought up in England. Last year, in consequence of the Southern climate not suiting him, he came to this district and established himself in High street, in the same line of business as he had carried on in Chriatchurch. Until lately he had enjoyed fairly good health, but a chill developed into peri* tonitie, and the end came rattier suddenly. Mr Maule leaves a widow, a son and v two daughters. At. Christohuroh Mr Maule waa one of the sidesmen at the Cathedral, and in Hawera r &e has served on the vestry." OAMARU, November 16, . Mr E. J. Dowling, manager of the Bank of New Zealand, shot himself through the head at 8.47 this morning. He had been suffering from internal complaints for somo time. IHe was an old and highly respeoted citizen, and had been many years in the BankV service. • Mr Dowling suffered latterly from insomnia, consequent upon ill-healih and unnecessary worry, as his position as Manager of the amalgamated Bank was assured. He did not sleep last night and complained thia morning, prior to the act, that he was nol feeling well. It is supposed that the action was the momentary impulse of pbyeicaJ agony, ac he had sent for & doctor. HOKII'IKA, November 17. Mrs Grimmond, wife of Mr Joseph Grimmond (County Chairman aud exM.H.R. for Hokitika},' died at Ross early this morning, after a protracted and painful illness. Mre Grimmond possessed a> large cirole of friends in all parts of th» coiony. .■•■•' .'■■'"'■'