OBITUARY.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19110, 20 September 1927, Page 5

OBITUARY.

MR SPENCER LORRAINE. Private advice received in Christchurch from England announces the death of Mr Spencer Lorraine, who for some few years was a well-known teacher of singing throughout tho Dominion. Mr Lorraine, who was a pupil of the great Manuel Garcia, did splendid work throughout New Zealand, and several of his pupils are occupying positions on the concert stage. MR ALLAN MACPHERSON. There passed away at Dunsandel on Sunday morning another old pioneer, in the person of Mr Allan Macpherson, at the age of 87 years. Mi' Macpherson, with his wife and small daughter, arrived in Canterbury in the early 'sixties by the ship British Empire. For some time after his arrival in the Dominion he worked at road contracting both at Saltwater Creek and in South Canterbury. Later, he took up land in the Dunsandel district and did a considerable amount of cropping on the Mead district, which was then held by Messrs Bealey Bros. "- Tho late Mr M-acpherson was a keen bowler and was a foundation member of the Dunsandel Club, and was a playing member until his health broke down a few years ago. He was a staunch supporter of the Presbyterian Church, and when a younger man, took- a keen interest in all athletic sports. He is survived by three sons and three daughters: —Messrs John, Duncan, and Allan Macpherson, contractors (Dunsandel); Mesdames M. Stapleton, AV. H. Keand (Dunsandel), and I - I'iH (Riccarton). His wife predeceased him eight years ago. The funeral takes place at Dunsandel to-day.

MR JAMES SINCLAIR. The death occurred .on Sunday morning of Mr James Sinclair, one of the oldest immigrants to Canterbury, and one of the best known of the Canterbury farmers. He was associated for some time with the goldfields in New Zealand, and was long connected with farming activities in tho province. Mr Sinclair was ono of tho first settlers at Yaldhurst, and was for many years afterwards in the Tai Tapu district. lie was born in Caithness, Scotland, in 1836, and was trained to a farming life on the Dunbeath Estate, of which his father was manager for over half a century. In 1858 lie arrived in Lyttelton on the Indiana, and worked in the bush at Oholca for some time. He was then engaged by Archdeacon Wilson on liis farm at Heathcote, and worked on the Broomfield Estate_ for a few mouths. Mr Sinclair joined in the "rush" to the Otago goldfields, and was at Gabriel's Gully for a year. On returning on Canterbury he married Miss Annie McKay in 1862, and took up land at Yaldliurst, where lie farmed until 1878, when ho sold his property and removed to Tai Tapu, whero ho bought a farm and worked it successfully for twenty-four, years. In 1902 ho sold out his property, and has since lived in retirement at Addington. He was for eight years a member of the Templeton lioad Board, and while residing at Yaldhurst served on the local School Committee, and on the Cemetery and Domains Boards. He was for thirteen years continuously on the Lincoln Eoad "Board, and for many on the Tai Tapu School Committee. Ho was 1 for-a very long time actively connected with the Methodist Church, and was for many years a trusteo and officebearer of the Tai Tapu Methodisfe Church, and later held similar offices in tho Addington Church. Tho following are members of the family of the late Mr Sinclair: —Mr J, A. Sinclair (Gore), Eev. W. A. Sinclair (general secretary of the Methodist Missionary Society of New Zealand, resident in Auckland), Mr J. E. Sinclair (headmaster of the Elmwood School), Mr A. S. Siuclair (Shirley), Mr R. Sinclair, J.P. (Morven), Mrs 11. Branthwaite (Christchurcli) and Mrs H K. Bowden (Christchurcli).

MR ALEXANDER JOYCE. The late Mr Alexander Joyce, who died in Christcliurch recently, after having, reached the advanced ago ot o<) was one if Canterbury's old colonists, having firljt come to New Zealand in 18G5 on tlio St. Leonards. Ho returned to England for a year or two and came out again with his wife by the barque Lanarkshire in 1378. Mr Joyce was a man of fine intellectual attainments and considerable originality of maid. He was for some years postmaster m Lyttelton and the telephone he established between'the post office and his residence was the first in use New Zealand and attracted considerable attention in the early- days. Subsequently Mr Joyce entered the emplojluent of the Lvttelton Harbour Eoaid as chief clerk and time-ball keeper at Lyttelton. In the early days of sailing ships he had a lucrative side line in the adjustment of ships 1, chronometers, which were retained during the windjammers' stay in Lyttelton at ihetimcball buildings and adjusted by the fine astronomical clock still in use there. His ratings were held in high esteem bv shipmasters and few vessels neglected to give their chronometers into his charge. After many years' service Mr Joyce left the Harbour Board and embarked 011 the venture of oil-boring in the Chertsey district. A company was formed and, under the able management of Mr T. Smith, the rather notable achievement was carried through of piercing the shingle bed to a depth of some 1100 ft. Traces of petroleum were then found" in the underlying strata, but quicksands were encountered, and other misfortunes, financial and mechanical, attended the' company, which finally had to be wound up. Mr Joyce proceeded on geological analogies alone and should a payable oilfield ever fco discovered underlying the Canterbury plains he will certainly be remembered as the pioneer of tho discovery. Mr Joyce held a number of honorary positions in Lvttelton. in the early days, being Sunday school superintendent for a number of years, also secretary of the Colonists' Society. He also founded in Lyttelton the first Chess Club in Canterbury which, howover. has not had a continuous history. He took considerable interest in politics ana the few remaining members of the Liberal Old Guard will re member him well as one of the leading members nf the Progressive Liberal Association. His speciality was land reform and his namohlet, "Land Ho," was a very lucid exposition of Henrv Georgian principles. His mind also had a philosophic bent and his pamphlet on "Reincarnation" attracted considerable attention. Mr Joyce, thcuah living in retirement since the winding-up of the Chertsev company, retained full mental rigour and considerable physical vigour until a few months preceding his death He came of si well-known Somersetshire . f'Beckingtou) family and bis wife, nee Emily "Hayes, predeceased him bv 19 vears. His,two sons, Mr TV. H. Joyce, registrar of the Christchurch Technical College, and Mr A. Joyce, are still living in Christcliurch.