OBITUARY.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11530, 12 March 1903, Page 5

OBITUARY.

MR A. G. HORTON.

(SrECIAL TO "_n_ PRESS.") AUCKLAND, March 11. By a singular fatality, if one may so describe it, the three senior proprietors of the "New Zealand Herald" have passed away within a few months of one another. Tlie first break in a partnership which had lasted sinca 1876, occurred in June last, when Mr W. S. Wilson died after a brief illne.'B. A few weeks later his brother, Mr J. L. Wilson, died, and to-day the last of the three partners, Mr A. G. Horton, expired at his residence, Painell, after a tdiort but painful illness, death beiny due to an affection of the heart- The deatS<>f his two partners following so quickly upon each other, and severing a eiose friendship that had continued fox more than a quarter of a century, were to him a severe shock, while the additional business cares and responsibilities necessarily imposed upon him us the surviving bead of the firm, proved a serious strain upon a constitution that had censed to be robust.. Some time ago he went to Rotoma for rest and change, nnd while there liad a serious attack. On liis return to Auckland his condition was still weak, and ho was confined to the house, only occasionally visiting the office. Now and again an improvement would manifest, itself, but thete was no steady or permanent recovery of strength, and this forenooai he passed away, retaining consciousness to tbe lart.

Mr Horton was a native of Hull, in York-hire, where he w*s born sixty-one years ago. When a young man he came out to New Zealand, and for about a year was on the Christchurch "Press," having, before leaving England, been on .the Hull "Daily Express," where he obtained a knowledge of reporting and literary work of a daily newspaper, and also of printing generally. After that he went to Timaru. then a newly-established township, which was making rapid progress, a_td established the "Tim-iru Herald." Mr Horton was tit that time in his twenty-first year. He edited and sub-edited the "Timn.ni Herald"' for eight yeans, and as his health then somewhat failed he sold the paper to a gentleman whom he had previously taken into partnership with him. He subsequently went to England on a trip, and on bis return to the colony he joined Mr Wilkinson in the proprietorship of the Thames "Advertiser." About two years afterwards he removed to Auckland, where he purchased the " Daily Southern Cross,' which had up to that time been the property of a company. Soon after the death of Mr W. C. Wilson, proprietor of the ""New Zealand Herald," in July, 1876, bis two sons, Messrs W. S. and J. L. Wilson, commenced negotiations with Mr Horton for tho amalgamation ot tbe two daily papers and their weekly issues. As a result of these negotiations, Mr Horton, in October, 1876, entered into partnership with the Messrs Wilson, the amalgamation of the two daily papers taking place at the end of the year. During his residence in Canterbury, Mr Horton took a somewhat active interest in politics. He was instrumental in bringing out Sir E. W. Stafford for Timaru. as its representative in the General Assembly, and for some time he represented the town of Timaru in the Provincial Council ot Canterbury during the superintendeney of Mr W. Rolleston, but in this part of the colony Mr Horton took no direct part in politics, either local or general. He was possessed of great abilities ns a business man, and had been connected .with the management of several important institutions. In 1884 he went to London at the request of the committee of investigation of the Bank of New Zealand, and not only secured new strength and capital for that institution, but practically reconstructed the bank. He was at that time offered a sent on the Board of Directors, but declined. For a short period he acted as director of tho Bank of New Zealand Estates Company. In 1890 he joined the Board of the New Zealand Insurance Company, on which he continued up till his death. For two terms he acted tis chairman of that Company, resigning that position at the last annual meeting in January, owing to his ■ Jailing health. He twice received vote j of thanks from the Board of Directors for the services he was able to render tho Company when in London.

Mr Horton was for a number of years chairman of the local Board of the Mutual Life Association of Australasia. He' was married in Dunedin in 1867 to Miss Jessiß Haliburton Chisholm, who died in Auckland in 1879. He leaves five sons and one daughter.