OBITUARY.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15679, 26 August 1916, Page 7

OBITUARY.

THE HON. SIR MAURICE O'RORKE, M.L.C. (PKESS ASSOCIATION' TELEGRAM.) AUCKLAND, August 25. Tho Hon. Sir G. M. O'Rorke, M.L.C, ex-Speaker of tho House of Representatives, died l*>t night, aged 86. The Hon. Sir George Maurice O'Rorke, M.L.C, was Speaker of tho Auckland' Provincial Council for twelve years, and of tho House of Representatives for twenty-eight years. He was born at Moylough, Galway, Ireland. At Trinity College ho distinguished himself as au honourman in Classics, and graduated 13.A. in 1852. Immediately jifter tho completion of his University course, he sailed for Melbourne. Arriving in tho .palmy days of the golufields, he found tho acquisition of a station in Victoria beyond his means, and with the view of taking up a run in tho interior, pushed into New South Wales, where lie spent somo time with tho late Mr C. N.y Bagot, also a Galway man. Mr Bagot was a groat overlandcr, and had stations on tho Murrumbidgee and Lachlan, and Mr O'Rorke was initiated into tho life of an overlander by taking stock from the Lachlan to Bendigo, and subsequently took mobs horses on his own account from New South Wales to Melbourne. On ono occasion ho disposed of his horses at Beechworth, and took a party of diggers to tho Buckland river, a tributary of the Ovens, and in a fortnight they divided £1400 worth of gold. Dissatisfied with his prospects of obtaining land in Australia, the young Irishman sailed for Auckland in 1864. and settled down to fanning in Papakura, but removed to Onehunga in the following year. Farming*-in thoso days was not in every case a remunera— - tive business; nor was it altogether agreeable to his tastes. So ho found service with the Auckland Provincial Council, in which he was appointed to the position of clerk in 1857. He was holding this office in 1860, when Onehunga became entitled to return a member to the House of Represents- • tives. Mr O'Rorke came out as a candidate in opposition to the Stafford Ministry, and after a most exciting contest, won by one vote. He was nominated for a seat in tho Auckland Provincial Council, and was elected in his absence. On his return to Auckland he was chosen as Speaker in the Provincial Council on the first day on wliich he took his seat as a member, and he held the Speakership of that Council continuously until the abolition of the provinces in 1876. It was largely through his instrumentality that the Auckland Grammar School was established, and assisted education largely up to the University Senate. The country libraries, too, with which the Auckland province is so well provided, wore largely assisted by him. As a member of the General Assembly, Mr O'Rorke's abilities were soon recognised. In 18bl he began to act as Chairman of Committees, whenever that functionary happened to be absent from tho House, and in 1863 Mr Carleton being absent in England, Mr O'Rorke was voted to the Chair for the session. On the return to power of tho Provincial party in 1869, he was offered the position of Under-Secretary for tho Colony, with a salary of £800 a year. This, however, he declined, as he was unwilling to give up living.in the Province of Auckland. In tho following year ho was unanimously elected Chairman of Committees, which office he held for two years. On the formation of the Waterhouse Min- | istfjir in 1872 he obtained a seat in the ' Cabinet, and after the retirement of this Government he continued to hold office under Sir Julius Vogel, until that gentleman proposed his resolutions to abolish the provinces of tho North Island, when Sir Maurice retired from the Ministry, rather than acquiesce in tho destruction of tho.Provincial Legislatures. In; 1875 * tho Chairmanship of Committees again became vacant, and Mr O'Rorke was elected to the position by common consent. Four years later the Speakership of the House catcd by Sir William Fitzherbort (who was translated to the Upper Chamber), and Mr O'Rorke nominated by Sir George Grey as Premier and seconded by Major Atkinson, leader, of the Opposition, was unanimously • elected Speaker. ITrom his first, appointment as 'Speaker in 1879, he had discharged his duties with such success-that on the assembling of'teach successive Par-' liament his election was a mero matter of form. No ono in the House who had sat under him would think of nominating anyone else. As, for instance, after the election of 1893, when Sir Maurice had been absent from .Parliament for three years, and his place had been filled in the meantime by Major Steward, he was elected Speaker for the sixth time by an overwhelming majority, and held office till 1902. In 1904 he was placed in ,thej Upper House For many years.Sir Maurice .was a member of the Senate! of. the University of New Zealand, and' chairman of the Council of the Auckland University College from its foundation, chairman of tho Board of Governors of - tho Auckland Grammar School, 'and chairman of the' Auckland Technical School Association, and was appointed by. the will of tho late Mr Dilworth as one of the trustees of the Dilworth Ulster . Institute. Sir Maurice was third son of the late Rev. John of Moylough, his mother being sister of the late John Dennis, of Birmingham House, Tuam, in the same county. Sir Maurice married in Auckland on Deoember 31st, 1858, Cecilia Mary Shepherd, daughter of the late Alexander Shepherd, first Colonial Treasurer of New Zealand, appointed by th e Imperial Government in 1842. He leaves one son, Mr Edward Dennis O'Rorke, who married in 1893 Miss A. C Rhodes. of Elmwood, Christchurch, and who is doing war work in England. MR MARTIN KENNEDY. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, August 25. Mr Martin Kennedy, a weii-known figure in the city for many years, and a director of the Bank of New Zealand, of which he was formerly chairman, died this evening, after a short illness.

Mr Martin Kennedy, attracted by the gold rush, arrived in Victoria from Ireland in 1860, and for about twelve months took an active part on the diggings. He then came over to New Zealand to the Otago diggings, and until 1865 he and his brother carried on business as merchants at Queonstown. At the beginning of the west Coast rush Mr Kennedy remo/ed to Greymouth, where for oyer twentj years be occupied a leading position as a merchant. While resident on the Coast lie was always forward to assist any , legitimate enterprise that had for its object the development of the country. He was largely interested in goldmining in all parts of the Coast, giving his time and experience cheerfully to further the interests of the ventures with which he was connected. He acquired in 1874 a considerable share in the coal mines at Brunnerton, to which ho devoted a large share of his time. His duties in connexion with the mines be- ! came so onerous that in 1880 he discontinued the mercantile business and devoted himself entirely to them. He became sole proprietor of the fit miner Colliery and the steam colliers engaged in.th© trader and for years conducted a large business as a colliery proprietor. .In 1888 he amalgamated lis colliery with the Westport Company's interest at Brunnerton, and sold half his coal interest as well as his steamship interest to the Union Steam Ship Com--1 pany. He became managing director,

of the Grey Valley Coal Company, ay,? soon after took up his residence A Wellington. In 1859 lie became managing director of the company - which purchased Messrs J. Staples and Co.'s brewery there. Ho owned a sheep run in the Wairnrap;i, and was interested in many Wellington undertakings, being ii director of several companies, and also of the Bank of New Zealand. In 1876 he was returned to the Houso of Representatives for Grey, but resigned after serving for two sessions, not being able to sparo tho time required to his Parliamentary duties. Some years ago Mr Kennedy was created by tho Popo a Knight of St. Gregory. He was a generous supporter of many charitable institutions, and a particular friend of Roman Catholic institutions. He was president of the Central Council of tho St. Vincent do Paul Society of Now Zealand.

MR T>. McKELLAB. (PRESS ASSOCIATION 1 TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, August 25. Mr Dugald McKellar t formerly Collector of "Customs at Wellington, died to-day, aged seventy-nine years. He was connected with tho early settlement of Taranaki. (SMXIAL TO "TIM PEKS9.") WIiUxLLNGION, August 25. Mr Dugnia" .uumMuir was bom at iJattersea, m ieoo. tie wua euucalou l>,> private tutors, luusiiuig at iNonvouu, a suuuroau tiisuici ot juonaon. -iii- arrived m Aew riywouth witu ms mouicr ana outer iuouibors ot uie i:uuuv iu uy mo barque fc>t. -YUcuaei, which urougut uio Oouslitution to fti'W Aioalaiiil auU carried despatches in ehargo oi a son of tue Dune ot rortiauu, uie passage occupying 14l> days. Mrs iuciveilur took up land in larauuiu, and witu her citt.Uren uuuerwent some stirring experiences in consequence of .hostilities by the .Maoris. Air Dugaid Alcivcliar saw a good deal of lighting as a member of the Militia, .rto was awarded tho Maori war medal, and for many years before his death took a keen interest in the affairs of tho Association of his Majesty's Veterans. After a short period os a temporary clerk in >tho Customs Mr McKollar was appointed clerk and landing waiter at aow Plymoutn in l*o9. Two years later »he was transferred to Auckland as second clerk, and in 1807 lie was removed to Christchurch as lirst clerk and cashier. Ho was first appointed Collector of Customs in 1873, being stationed at Tauranga. Seven years afterwards Mr McKollar was appointed landing surveyor at Auckland, a positiqn which ho retained till 1892, when he was promoted to the positions of Collector of Customs for the Port of Wellington and Inspector of Fisherios. He held thoso appointments antil ho retired on superannuation in 1901. On ieavmg tho Service Mr McKollar took up his residence in Now PlymouJi for about a vear. and then returned to Until three months ago his health had been fairly good. Yesterday morning ho had a heart seizure, and ho died shortly before 2 o'clock this morning.

The ltev. Charles John Mertoii, whose death was announced from Auckland on Wednesday, was born at ritoke-by-Nayland, t>utiolk, England, ia February, ISW. ti Q came to .New Zealand with, his .'parents in the. ship Egiuont in ISSU, and was.educated at Cnrist's College. In succession he was assistant master at the llangiora Jsehool, headmaster of St. Lukes School, and headmaster of St. Michael s School. He was ordained deacon m 1873, and was appointed curate at St. Michael's aud later at Bt. Luke's, Christchurch. He was ordained priest in 1876 and "was vicar of Heathcote and Sumner from 1876 to 1891, vicar of Merivalo 1891 to 1896, vicar of Kaitaia 1896 to 1910, mission pneet to 1915, and vicar of Hclcnsvillo from. 1913 to tho time of '• hi«j death. ",' Ho took great interest in the Volunteer movement in the sixties, and was Ensign and afterwards Captain of tho old No. 4 Company, Eangiora Volun- ! teers.

Mr-Robert Moore died 1 at his resilence, Richmond street,. Petone, on rhnrsdav. Deceased, who was born it Keighlev. Yorkshire. 72 years ago, arrrvp-d. in sfew Zealand in 1880. He joined the Petone Railway "Workshops, whence ho retired in 1900 on superannuation. ,

Residents of Dannevirkc, including bowlers, golfers, and tennis players, will learn with regret, of the death at Union Hili, 2se\v Jersey, on July 17th. of Mr. John Fancy, formerly well known as a resident of Wannevirke for many years (says tho It is only, a few months ago since 'Mr Fahey decided to go to New Jersey to live with his sister there, and he was enjoying splendid health till he met with, a bicycle accident, fracturing his spine. An operation was performed —successfully—but the intense heat proved too much for the sufferer, who at the end passed peacefully away.

Much, regret will b© felt~ both in Christchurcli and Geraldine at the death of Mr Henry Walter Moore, the newa of whose death has been received by cable from England, where he had been living tor the past four years. Mr Moore, wiio was born in England, came to Mew Zealand some forty years ago. -x*e lived for a great many years in Geraldine, and then before hi departure for England in Armagh street, Christchurch. He was twice, married, his first wife being Miss Hester Lysaght, daugntcr of the late Mr Francis Lysaght, of Mokoia, Hawera, by whom no nad one son, Mr Frank Moore. His second wife was Miss Fish, daughter of Dr. Fish, of Geraldine, who is at prosent in England. Mr Moore was a very earnest churchman, and was prominent in church work both in Geraldine and Christchurch. He was formerly a very good athlete, and played both cricket and football. There are two brothers of Mr Moore living— Colonel Moore, of Geraldine, and Admiral Sir Arthur Moore. One of Mr Moore's sisters was Maid of Honour to Queen Victoria.