JOHN L. GILLIES.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXIV, Issue 1213, 1 October 1897, Page 6

JOHN L. GILLIES.

In the death of Mr John L. Gillies, which event took place at his residence Dunedin, at an early hour on Monday morning, there has passed away one who both in public and private took a full share of the heat and burden of the early days of the colony. In the history of Otago his name must ever have a promimrnt place while his memory will long be •herished by many friends in this and other districts. Mr Gillies was born in the borough of Rothesay, Scotland, in 1832, where after completing his education he held an appointment in the Western Bank of Scotland. In 1851 he resigned this appointment and sailed for Victoria, where he obtained a situation on a sheep and cattle run. This situation he soon gave up and went to the gold fields, but, tiring of that kind of life he joined the staff of the Geelong Advertiser, on which for some years he was chief accountant. In 1855 he came to Dunedin where his father and the other members of the family had previously settled. He then took tip a farm In Tokomairiro but on the break out of the Gabriel's gold field he was seized with the gold fever and was one of the first to take up a claim in that celebrated gully. In 1861 he entered political life as member of the Otago Provincial Council for the Tokomairiro district. This seat he resigned in 1864. During part of the time he was in the council he held office in the Executive as treasurer. Again, in February, 1869, he was returned for the second time to the Council as the representative of Tokomairiro, and in the same year he became a non-official member of the Provincial Executive, with Mr Donald Reid as Provincial Secretary. On the 25th of May 1871, he was elected Speaker of the Provincial council— a position his father had held some years previously. In 1873 the late Mr Macandrew, having disminsed the Executive and resigned the Superintendency in order to test the feeling of the electors, Mr Gillies contested the election for Superintendent, but was defeated. The campaign was one of the most memorable ia the history of Otago. At the general election the deceased was reelected a member of the Council for his old constituency and was again appointed Speaker, maintaining the position until the Abolition of Provinces Act of 1875 took effect in the following year. In 1873 Mr Gillies was elected to the House of Representatives for the Waikouati seat as successor to Sir David Monro, He sat in the House till 1875 when he waa appointed secretary to the newly formed Otago Harbour Board, which position he occupied till the day of his death. The deceased held many positions other than those mentioned, one being editor of the Bruce Herald. He was one of a family endowed with unusual ability, industry and sagacity, and in whatever capacity he laboured Mr Gillies brought these characteristics to bear on his work. He was looked up to by many and his advice sought for on all questions both of a public and private character. He was exceedingly kind hearted aud obliging and would put himself to no end of trouble to serve a friend or even an opponent. He was a faithful type of the early settlers of Otago and although Mr Gilliee has

for a number of years been resident in Dunedin many in Bruce will feel that through his death they have lost a irue and faithful friend. The deceased leaves a family of three sons and four daughters all ot whom are grown up, his wife having died many years ago.