OBITUARY.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17431, 17 April 1922, Page 8

OBITUARY.

REV. W. C. OLIVER. The death of the Rev. W. C. Oliver at Qhristchurch on Friday removed a well-known Methodist minister, who \roa a remarkable man in many ways. Lorn in Larige, Loch Shin, North Scotland, in 1842, he landed in New Zealand as a lad and went across to Tasmania to be educated at the Horton College. On his return he was given his first call as a minister to Port Chalmers. Subsequently he came to Christchurch as a. junior minister. In 1887 he was elected president of tlhe Methodist Conference, and continued to hold that office for seventt*n years in different districts. He was also editor of connexional payers for two -years. In "19C9 he became a* supernumerary, and took up his residence again in Christchurch. From 1915 to IS2I he was engaged in supply work to fill vacancies caused bj young ministers going to the war. Mr Oliver was a man .of exceptional physical strength, and had a handshake like a vyse. In spite of his advanced years, he fliad a complete set of sound teeth in hia head. He used to think nothing m his younger days of rowing a boat up the Otago Harbour to Dunedin after conducting a service at Port Chalmers. He was at Gabriel's Gully at the time of the famous' rush, and attended the jubilee celebrations which were held. a few years ago. The late Mr Oliver was a well-known fisiherman and a keen deerstalker, arid many a stag fell tc his rifle. He was one of the first to traverse the Dingle, in the Lake Hawea. district; in fact, Oliver's Gully was I named after him. A direct descendant | of Thomson, the poet, he .was also a cousin of General Gordon. Ho came of a family remarkable for its longevity, two of his ancestors having lived to bepcorao centenarians, while his mother reached the age of 96" years. He continued his ministerial duties until his illness made it impossible, conducting his last service at the S.imner Methodist Church on January 29th. The late Air Oliver was twice married. His first wife was a siste? of Dean Fitchett, of Dunedin, and of Dr. W. H. Fitchett, editor of "Life." He leaves a widow and a grown-up family. The funeral took place yesterday, the cortege leaving the deceased's late residence, Banks's avenue, Shirley,- for the Lrawocd. Cemetery. The pail-boarers. were Messrs C. F., H. W., and. F. S. Oliver (sons), Jdhn and Geofrge Oliver (brothers), and A. E. Craddock (son-in-law). The Revs. W. J. Williams,. W. Baumber, and C. Abernethv officiated at the graveside, and the Rev. C. A. Tobin spoke an appreciation. A short' service was conducted at the house by the Revs. W. J. Baumber and T. Fee. Among those who attended the funeral wer-3 the Revs. Samuel Lawry, Napier Milne, Patchett, W. Ready,' Wallis, C. Ward, Messrs C E. Salter, J. H. Kirk, H. T. Milnes, Butt e, saniot and junior, E. H. Hargreaves, F. Steffan (Oamaru), H. B. Vickery, C. Allan, W. Seed, C. Mr ar.d Mrs Cuthbertson (Invercargih), and Mr and Mrs Wright (Coutts Island). Wreatihs were sent by Mr and Mrs L. Banks, Miss Banks, Mr and Mrs H. T. Milne, Miss Sheard, Mrs J. M. Buttle, Mr and Mre- E. H. Hargvenves, the Rev. A. C. and Mra Lawry and Miss Lawry, Mr and Mrs T. E. Roberts, Mr and Mrs J. L. Clarke, members and friends of the Heathcote Methodist Cnurch, members of the congregation of the Sumneif Methodist Church. A memorial service to the late Mr Oliver will be neld in the Durham street MeUhodist Church on Sunday,'the Rev.' W. Baumber preaching the memorial sermon.