MR JOHN SHAW.

Clutha Leader, Volume XX, Issue 1035, 25 May 1894, Page 4

MR JOHN SHAW.

During the long period of close on half a century there has been no niore honoured and respected name in the Clutha— perhaps few in the Colony — than that of Mr John Shaw, of Finegand, whose death on Saturday morning last is mourned by a very large circle of friends and acquaintances. Mr Shaw has not enjoyed robust health for many years, and for the past few years has suffered from bronchitis and other troubles. It was apparent that of late he was failing considerably, but no serious danger was anticipated until Sunday 13th inst., when a change for the worse took place. His medical attendant was sent for and found him suffering from pneumonia. Prom that time the patient gradually got weaker, and on Friday afternoon he became much exhausted, and it become apparent that the end was near. Although slightly confused and incoherent at times, his mind, as a rule, continued clear to end: he recognised all about him and conversed freely.' About 1 o'clock on Saturday morning he had occasion to get out of bed, aud did so unassisted, he perferring this course, and saying he felt quite able for it. Mr Marshall, his manager, assisted him back to bed where he lay peacefully, breathing quite naturally for about five minutes, when he simply ceased to breathe. This was all the change immediately apparent, there being no struggle or sign of suffering. Thus, Mr John Shaw passed away at the ripe age of 81 . years, surrounded by his wife and. family and other loving friends. Mr Shaw was born at Finegand, Glenshee, a romantic glen in the highlands of Perthshire, and was the second son in a family of three sons and nine daughters, of whoifl only one daughter now survives. His father held Pinegand farm on lease, but owned the property of Westerton a few miles down the glen. He was the leading man of the district, was universally esteemed, and all and sundry had recourse to him for advice and assistance in every difficulty or emergency. John was educated at Drumfork school — we believe— and having completed his education decided on following the legal profession. With this view he entered a solicitor's office in Perth, but after a few years, abandoned the idea, explaining to his friends that " lawyers had too much dirty work to do for him to follow out the profession." He then went to live for a few years with an uncle on Long Island in the north of Scot'and, his uncle being factor ! for the proprietor of the Island. John again returned to Finegand where he lived for a short time, after which— about 1838 — he leased for 14 years the farm of Newbarns, near Kirriemuir, Forfarshire. At the expiry of the lease he decided to emigrate 'to Otago, New Zealand, and succeeded in inducing his sister Margaret to accompany him. . Prior to leaving he purchased at the Otago office, Edinburgh, the section, of. so acres on which his lateresidenoe.stands, - Johnand bissistej;

sailed in the Maori, on her first trip for New Zealand in August 1851 and arrived in March 1852. Wellington was the Maori's port of arrival, and the two made their way thence to Otago. Miss Shaw then stayed for a short time with Mr Archibald Anderson, at Bellview. Dunedin, while John, accompanied by a shepherd named M'Lean he had brought with him from the Old Country, came to the Clutha and proceeded to erect a house at Finegand. So soon as the house was completed Miss Shaw joined her brother there. And here it may be remarked that if ever a brother and sister loved each other and seemed to be made for each other that brother and sister were John and Margaret Shaw. Shortly after getting settled down at Finegand Mr Shaw commenced sheep farming, and for a time depastured the ridges between " The Ferry " and Warepa. He subsequently leased *un No 72, situated behind Warepa, which he ultimately sold to Mr Ord, and afterwards to the end of his days confined his attention to the Finegand estate, which he had increased to about 2000 acres. Mr Shaw had a good many difficulties to contend with in the early days, these principally arising from the "want of communication, for in those days there were no roads, and no shops nearer than Dunedin, Like other early settlers the Shaws were sometimes for weeks at a stretch without such necessaries of life as flour and salt. Mr Shaw in later years used to refer cheerily to these and similar early experiences. Mr and Miss Shaw were in the early days known far and wide for their hospitality. Everybody who visited the Clutha in search of land or otherwise wended his way to the Shaw's and was hospitably entertained. As it was then the only house for miles around on the south side of the river it would have been rather awkward had any one called and found the family away from home. To meet this contingency the Shaws, when they had occasion to go away anywhere,. used to put plenty of food on the table for travellers and they used to stick up a notice on the door somewhat as follows ; — "Family from home ; stranger go in and help yourself." In these happy days it was not necessary to put everything under lock and key. The persons requiring a night's lodging were usually persons looking out for land or making their way to more distant parts of the country, and although there were then comparatively few people in the country, not many days passed without visitors at Finegand. Mr Shaw kept a boat on the river and conveyed all and sundry across free of charge. This, indeed, occupied a considerable portion of his time and somewhat interfered with his duties on his farm. It is said that on one occasion Mr and Miss Shaw, who had gone down the river in their boat and were rather late in returning found on entering the house that a traveller had taken possession of one of the family beds. This turned out to be a Glenshee man aud, when it became known who he was it is needless to say he received a highland welcome, but Mr Shaw would not have found fault with the poorest person in the country taking such a liberty. The house at Finegand was iu those days a small fern-tree erection. The kitchen was the chief room, and it did duty not only as a kitchen but also occasionally as a church. There the few settlers met when a suitable occasion offered to worship the God of their fathers. It was in this little place that the sacrament of the Lord's supper was first dispensed in the Clutha district, and singularly enough, as was the case when our Lord himself established the ordinance in the upper room at Jerusalem, the number that sat down at the table was twelve. Of these twelve three are still alive. On this occasion the late Rev Dr Burns and Mr Bannerman were the officiating clergymen, Messrs Shaw and P. Ayson were the officiating elders, and M'Lean, Mr Shaw's shepherd, was precentor. Mr Shaw was not only a very kind man, but a man of good sound sense and of a very cheery and humorous dsposition. The chief defect about him was that he was rather retiring in his manner. He was unwilling to obtrude himself in any way upon the public. But for his temperament in this respect he might have been a useful public man. In the early days it was difficult to get anyone to take a public position. The second Provincial Council was elected in 1856 and Mr Shaw was elected one of the members for the Clutha in that Council and continued to represent the Clutha for the four years for which the Council was elected. He could not, however, be prevailed onto come forward a second time. If he had had any taste for public life, he might have been elected to represent the district in Parliament, for he had all the necessary qualifications. It may be interesting to mention that Mr Shaw's election to the Provincial Council took place on the river bank at M'Neil's bush below the traffic bridge here. Mr J. P. Maitland was returning officer and the meeting was composed of Messrs John Shaw, Kettle (Kaihiku), James M'Neil (Balclutha) and P. Ayson (Corydon). After Mr Shaw had been elected, Mr Campbell (Glenfalloch) was seen coming over the Rosebank ridge, and on his joining the meeting of electors he proceeded to question the newly-elected representative as to his political views, to which Mr Shaw replied that he had yet to make up his politics. Mr Shaw was also a member of the Clutha Road Board which embraced the whole of the Clutha district, and on the school committee, and took his full share of the arduous duties members of such bodies had to undertake in those days. It may not be within the knowledge of many of our readers that Mr Pillans of Inch Clutha, who died a few years ago, was in the early days a member of the Legislative Council. About 20 years ago he resigned this position. At this time Mr Murray represented Brace and Mr Thomson represented Clutha in the House of Representatives. They thought it desirable that some one phould be appointed in Mr Pillans' place, and the person they considered best suited for the position was Mr Shaw. They therefore took steps to ascertain from him whether he would be willing to take a seat in the Council if it should be offered him, and they assured him that if he would do so they would use their influence with the Government to get him appointed. They could not, however, prevail on him to say that he would accept the position. A little over 20 years ago Miss Shaw died, and was mourned for by many in the Clutha, for she was a good woman, and had done many an act of kindness in her day. Some of the old settlers, even after the lapse of all these years, cherish her memory, and have a kindly word to say about her. Mr Shaw married somewhat late in life, and has left a widow and two sons and two daughters to mourn his loss. We know that they have the sympathy.of all in this neighborhood, aod especially of the old settlers, to all of whom their dear relative was well known, and by all of whom he was highly respected. It may be mentioned that Mr Shaw was a staunch Presbyterian, and was an officebearer in the Presbyterian Church of Memus in the Old Country when he was tenant of Newbarns, He was an elder of the Balclutha Presbyterian Church, and last officiated at the dispensation of the sacrament here about four months ago. He then looked very frail, and it was remarked by some at the close of the service thatin all human probability that would be Mr Shaw's last communion Sabbath on earth. The prediction proved correct, as he died the day before neit communion Sabbath. His last visit to Balclutha was on

the day of the recent local option poll, when he and Mrs Shaw drove up and recorded their votes. Mr Shaw was a sincere, staunch Christian, but made no parade of religion. He shunned tinsel and show in everything. His religion was more the religion of action, of life than of ostentatious profession. His whole life was without a stain ; it was ihat of a true consistent Christian, while his death was that of the righteous. Mr John Shaw has now gone the way of all the earth, leaving behind a reputation as a settler of which his family may well be proud, and a name which will long be held in kindly remembrance in the Clutha. The funeral took place on Tuesday, and was very largely attended, it being the longest funeral procession ever witnessed in the Clutha, being attended by mourners from far and near. The services both at the house and the grave were very impressive, Mr Currie being assisted at the former by Mr Kirkland, and at the latter by Messrs Bannerman and Allan.