SIR JOHN L. CAMPBELL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1474, 24 June 1912, Page 6

SIR JOHN L. CAMPBELL.

DEATH OF AUCKLAND PIONEER

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Auckland, .Tunc 23. Sir John Logan Campbell peacefully in his sleep yesterday morning, aged 85 years. The will left by Sir John Logan Campbell will not bs opened until after the funeral on Tuesday afternoon, but it is understood lhat various public institutions will benefit by the generosity of the Grand Old Man, who has already done eo much for his loved city, and whoso princely gift of One Treo ITill Domain was but one of the indications of ihe great public- spirit which marked his life's history.

INTERMENT IN ONE TREE HILL. Christchurcb, Juno 23. The Minister for Internal Affairs, Hon. G. W. Russell, has forwarded tho following telegram to the Mayor of Auckland regarding tho death of Sir John Logan Campbell:—"l'lease accept on bahalf of the citizens of Auckland my sincere sympathy over tho death of Auckland's great patriot and benefactor, Sir John Logan Campbell. I trust it may assuage the general regret to know that the Government bas, in accordance with the late Sir John Logan Campbell's wish, and at the request, of Sir Maurice O'Rorko, chairman of the One Tree Hill Domain Beard, decided that his mortal remains shall be interred in the One Tree Hill Domain, and that special legislation will be introduced next session to validate this decision."

A PEACEFUL END. . (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Aucklond, June 23. "It was a beautiful day when we set out. In fact, it was always beautiful weather whenever we started 011 a journey in those far-off days, because we always waited for a fine day. Timo was of little account." Thus wrote Sir John Logan Campbell about the setting out of a little party from AVaiou (Coromandel) to visit for the first time the Waitemata, of which they had heard such glorious accounts, and now the "Father of Auckland" has set out on his last long journey alone in the chill of the year, with his beloved Waitemaia lying grey beneath the winter sun, and Maungakickie standing out against a sombre western sky— everything grey but peaceful, as though in sympathy with the sorrow of the people who mourn the passing of -Auckland's most revered citizen. But his memory will bo a sunny one. He will livo always in the affectionate remembrance of Aucklanders and the tens of thousands of people to whom his name has been a household word. The "Grand Old Man," full of years and honour, passed peacefully

away in his sleep this morning, just before dawn, when the waters of the Waitomata, upon which he lias looked out so often from his home oil the cliff, were just at the last of tho ebb tide.

As Sir John had reached such a great ago—he would have been 95 had he lived till November—people expected tho worst when they heard a few days ago that ho had been compelled to take to his bed, and tho news Oi his death was not unexpected (his morning! The flags at tho Town Hall, tho Albert Park, and throughout tho city wero flo'.vn at half-mast, and the death was tho principal topic in Queen Street, the notices outsido tho newspaper offices being eagerly scanned by largo numbers of people throughout the morning. The people everywhere spoko about tho deceased with the greatest respect and affection, and the death of a private citizen' has never before caused such widespread interest. Sir John Camphell had been connected with the history of the place so' long that it. was hard to realise that the lhik had at last been broken. At the request of many leading citizens, who recognised that tho only fitting resting-place for tho remains of Auckland's benefactor was Maungakiekio, the crowning glory of his noble gift to the people of New Zealand, arrangements have been mado for his interment there, the siecessary permission having been obtained from tho Government and the local authorities. Arrangements have been made for tho funeral to leave "Kilbr.yde,' Sir John's late residence, on Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock. The acting-Mayor, Mr. John Court, intends to invite the citizens of Auckland to close their business premises for tho afternoon,, as a mark ot respect, and in order to enable those who c> desire to attoad Hie funeral. The Hon. A. M. Myers, Minister for Railways and Defence, left Wellington this morning, in order (o be present at the interment.

A PUBLIC-SPIRITED CITIZEN. Kir John Logan Campbell. "The Father of Auckland," was one of the best known and nur-t respected citizens of Auckland, lie was horn in 1817, and was the only son of Dr. John Campbell, of Edinburgh lc was educated at Edinburgh, and took his degree of M.l). at the loo.il University, irnininj? his diploma of surjwoii at -tJio Roval College of Siirgemis. Ho came out to "Sydney in 1839 as medical olhccr in charge of immigrants ill the barque Pnlvrma. Australia was then in. the throes of the first grant wave of immigration, and the convict element was so uncongenial that Dr. Campbell, who had intended Inking up land in Australia, decidod lo coino on to Now Zcvihnm, which had just liK'ii declared a British colony. Early in 1810 ho landed ut Coromamlel. and was present at the very foundation of Auckland. Tie was nreseut. at the sale ol the first town lots in 1811, at which time ho lived on fit-' 1 little island of Moiukarea in Auckland Harbour. Though the title of "doctor" always nluny Jo the old pioneer, ho never practised Lis profusion in

New Zealand, preferring the o.ppprtu.ftiiics of a. commercial varrtr. lie took a prominent part in isiat'ters MmniiTciii-l anil political in tlio ftarly days, aiid 'beside? tilling the post of Siipfei'.i Ul'fi'icien t: of the Auckland I'rovincp during the year., !?-s"iG, took an actiyc. ,'part-in ilie Cieiiera'l Assembly as member for Auckland, and as a ■ member of the Executive Pfiunc.ii without;' ■ portfolio in thp KiufiVrd Mini-try of IS.'iO. ■ br. Campbell i';eti.r.ed. irom. the pol.lfic.al nreua about ISO'., but continued to,.t.'i!>e tin active interest' in varioii's local- institutions. being p'resVden.t of flte Nprt.'hprn Club, Auckland. Institute, Ci'.niiibrr of Commerce, and Bank: o.f X,-w Zrajand. He also served as 'chni.ri.iian of liie Ivlucaiiea licard. New Zcafaiid in'sii.raii.cft 'Ppntnaivy,..' and other dirce;torat< ; f. Br. Campbell became Mayor of Auckland Snip in l : i{.e aiid under exceptional eireuiiist.an.c'.e.s. Iff was elected as the niaii nie't: w.ort-'.k'- In ffli the ofiice during, the visit of: the l)uke find Duchess of York ,in MOl. Jiiiii' at. tli.e. n"rrtt«n rfquest of ■t.housa.ii.ds of citizens l:.c ngrsert to stand, for "lection -on. tji.e -understanding that he- sliiiiihi be at iilierty to retire into ptsrti!fp life after five Diyal' visit, was over ; and t-.hat: Hu; voiitiiie work of tlio office should b" sup.erpsjd.' by a deputy-mayor. -C!.n. tji'ese. ■conditions lie was elected on April ;-l. .190.1. AV'ien ilie j)iikp antl.Duchess rc.nrhcd Auckland, Ur, Campbell. as first citizen. .;n:nd chief niagis'trate,, did the honours of tuo oeeasior,. Hfi 1 s'iglu'.Hed the event by presenting to. the psoplp of Ne.w Ze.aTanii,; tiirougb t.he Bijlctf cf. Cornwall, 230 acres , of' land, .n-ar't b'f thebeautiful p.-tate of ftne. Itill, lyith: s reouest that i.t -iniprh't. lip '.knpsvti. (is C-oVn-wall Park. In n ineinp.randjiiii attache-! to the deeds,.-wli.ie.lv were dflted. .Tlliie 10, IMI, Dr. Cani.p.b.eiV saiil-.. "I sigti this deed rf gift on the sixty-fir-t amiiv.er.sary of 1 the year T left'thc .jiaori: yiil.ige. Jif. 'y?;Tioj r mil. oil the shores of Ifauiaki Clulf. and entered the prinicval forest to carve witlimy axe the pp.no-- ill which aft;:;v.-.'ir.'ls I made my way to; the: Isl.a.'n.d of 'Jfo.tnkw.reii, my first home- in the- Wnifeiiiata,. Kinee that day it has been my fpxf'niig to l>e at. 'he fouiidatioiv:of the- cplctny. of Ne>v land, to watch'the •noy.-Hi o.f iny ndop'e-! country, and to .siv>re as v,;ell its strii'ggles and its yicissi.iudW. and ife .Tiow". well founded and increasing prosperitjr'... . SuWe'rintendent of tlie.Proyiilce of Auckland in; 1855. member ftnired wh.eri n T'o?pov."db'.c the older system of Pi-n'vincial A.diuinistration. to me eliief .mngistrntte of: Auckland, has fallen -'the ■ -.of -presenting the city!s;.'wejc6!iin to liis .Jliglinijsj' the Duke of Cprn\ralltiid:Torls. .. an abiding memorial of the deep trrafirude and warm alTection I bear: tliis, the nountry of my adoption,, -I; have therefore desired to present Cornwall Pml; to. -lie- a place of publ.i,c roson fcr t,h 1 irtcrenUon and enjoyment of; ,the ;: 'peppl<> ...isf New ..Zealand. . . ?on;e time ofier t!:e Pcyal visit, viz., or iliilr ?-i. Dr. Cani.i'ibell resigned the '.STice. of Mavor. as bud -been' stipulated foft and: retired ir.to priva-e !if» again, ill. tuOl, y.Htli the tiile of "Sir .Mm ' J.ogan Cnmpbei!." Dr. Camnb.eil made several, t'riii.s-'.to :Eri'gland,-.oiie; :qi liis aiisences from iiip cp'onv exteiul'rig over (en years, lie:-' \v-asi prfn.ri pn I '-..of i.li.p' i;n"wn rn'renntile. 1 of- .TSro-.n-i, Canrn-I-.rll and Co. iTKs'tfcafh, clews tl.ie. 'eyen'fiillife of an old pioneer ivhcse rrnue w.a-s known and 'lio.nonred tlirpiighpii.t; -tlio length and breadth of New Zealand.