OBITUARY.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9280, 4 December 1895, Page 2

OBITUARY.

MR H. OLNEY.

Our obituary notices contain the nounccment of the death of Mr Herbert Olney, merchant, of Liohfield street, and Nepowie, Armagh street, Linwood. Bora in London, April 6th, 1856, he w&* educated at the City of London School, then undei Dr. Mortimer, and at Neuohatel College, French Switzerland, the Principal being the late Dr. Potavel. Hie father wm William Olney, the well known Deacon of Mr Spurgeon'a Tabernacle, London. Early in life he left JKngland for Australia, where he settled for a short time, and married. He then came to New Zealand, and (having engaged for awhile in buainesi in the North Island) eventually settled in Chriatchurch as a wholesale importer of haberdashery and soft goods, his uncle being the senior partner in the firm of Olney, Ainsden and Co,, Aldersgate street, London. For many years Mr Olney has been actively engaged in religious work iv connection with the Baptist denomination. At the »ga of sixteen he was baptised by the Rev. C. a. Spurgeon. Thirteen years ago he joined himself to the Oxford terrace Baptiut Church (now under the pastorate of Rev. J. J. Dokf), and has faithfully served that Church »n the varied capacities of Deacon, Treasurer, Trustee and Sunday sohool Superintendent. During that time he has taken a leading part iv all tforke connected with religion and philanthropy. Singularly enough, hu last public act of beneficence took the form of defraying the expense of the decoration of the interior of the church (as described in our columns of Friday : .w»Jjl, with which he was so Uong connected This handsome benefaction w«. «» memory of hie elde&t eon William Arthur, who died leas than twelve months ago. Not half of his kindly deeds have ever been known exoept to his most intimate friend*, for he shrank from anything approaching ostentation, "he did good by stealth, ana blushed to find it fame." His death, following a period of ill-health, waa nevertheless quite unexpected, and came as a painful surprise (he being only in his fortieth year). But his comparatively short life has in many ways been a most happy and useful one, whether regarded from a family, busjnesa, religious, or philanthropic point of view. He has passed away deeply regretted by a large cirole of friends,-ana Christchuroh is the poorer through int decease of such a man. He leaves a widow and seven children to mourn his loss.