OBITUARY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 406, 15 January 1909, Page 3

OBITUARY.

MR. J. 0. GAVIN. Mr. Jamos Clark Gavin, who, prior to his retirement owing to ill-health two years ago, hold important offices in tho Civil Service, died at Karori yesterday at.tho ago of 73 years. Tho oauso of death was paralysis, accompanied by heart weakness. Tho lato Mr. Gavin was born at Stewarton, Ayrshire, Scotland, and camo out to Auckland as a boy of 17. After a short interval he joined tho Civil Service in tho northern city, under tho Provincial Government. When tho Maori war broke out, he'was transferred for a short time from the Treasury to tho Defence Department, in whjch lie did duty as a paymnster. Returning to tho Treasury, he was appointed in 1874 accountant to that Department, and secretary to the commission on.public debts sinking funds. Four years, later he .becamo Secretary to tho Treasury, Receiver-General, and Paymaster-General, aud -in August, 1890, ho- was appointed Assistant Controller and Auditor. Early in 1905 Mr. Gavin was granted six months' leave of absenco on account of ill-health., He paid a visit to England, but returned still far from well, and in November, 1906, retired on" pension, from the service. Kβ had lived vory quietly since. , . ■ The late Mr. Gavin marrie'd'Elizaboth Hay, daughter of Mr. William.Hay, of Auckland. Hie:widow, and a family of five sons and two daughters, are left to mourn their loss. Tho eldest sonj Mr. W. H. Gavin, only recently returned to New Zealand, from America to. take the position .of engineer to Messrs. M'Lean Bros., at the Mount Arthur tunnel works. Tho other brothers aro Mr. 11. H. Gavin, engineer at the Wellington Meat Export Company's freezing- works at Ngahanranga; Mr. A. Gavin, farming- in Marlborough ; Dr. N. J. H. Gavin, in charge of a medical hospital in Lancashire; and Sir. G. H. Gavin, student of St. John's Theological College, Auckland; Both daughters are unmarried. , . The interment will take place at 9 a.m. to-morrow, in the little cemctvry belonging to the Anglican Church at Karori.