“The Press” In 1864

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30471, 19 June 1964, Page 10

“The Press” In 1864

JUNE 20. DEATH OF THE VENERABLE ARCHDEACON MATHIAS.—The public will hear with deep regret the announcement of the death of the Venerable Archdeacon Mathias, which took place at his house at Riccarton on Saturday afternoon at about 3 o'clock. The Rev. gentleman had been in ill health for about three weeks, and appears from the first to have taken a more unfavourable view of his state than his medical adviser hoped was necessary. He was not wholly confined to the house, and had indeed been shewing slight symptoms of improvement until the night before his death when he became rapidly worse and sank within a few hours. Mr Mathias was one of the first who took an interest in the foundaI tion of Canterbury, and

was elected by the Managing Committee of the Association as one of the capitular clergy, whom it was intended at that time to attach to the cathedral, which it was part of the original design of the Association to build. He came to the colony in the Dominion in 1851, and shortly after settled at Riccarton, where he lived ever since. Mr Mathias was twice married, his first wife having died shortly after her arrival in the colony. In every work of public utility and of private charity for the last 13 years the Rev. gentleman who has now left us partook, with ail the straightforward and manly energy which was the principal feature in his character.

MR G. RHODES—A telegram was received in Christchurch on Saturday evening announcing the

death of Mr George .Rhodes, at Purau. Mr Rhodes was one of the settlers in the Northern Island, and settled with his brother Robert in the Middle Island two or three years before the formation of Canterbury, having purchased the homestead of Mr Greenwood, in Purau Bay. On the arrival of the settlers the Messrs. Rhodes drove the principal part of their sheep to the southward of the Canterbury plains, and formed the station near Timaru which they have occupied ever since, and where Mr George Rhodes principally resided. As a member of one of the wealthiest firms in New Zealand Mr G. Rhodes exercised considerable influence and as old settler he was widely known, but, unlike other members of the family, he took little personal interest in public affairs.