HON. J. GRIMMOND

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 57, 29 November 1924, Page 6

HON. J. GRIMMOND

SUDDEN DEATH AT ROSS A WEST COAST IDENTITY Sir Francis Bell received a telegram from the town clerk of Hokitika yesterday announcing the sudden death at Ross on Thursday of the Hon. Joseph Grimmond, M.L.C. The flags on the State buildings were immediately lowered. The late Mr. Grimmond had an adventurous career. Born at Drogheda, Ireland, 81 years ago, he was trained as an engineer. He landed in Melbourne at the age of 16, and went to tho Ballarat goldfield at the height of tho fever. IVhen the rash at Gabriel’s Gully set in he went there in 1861, and followed the rush with success. Two years later he went to the Whakamarina field, going thence to the West Coast goldfield at Ross, where he has settled, with one brief intermission, for 60 years. At some time, according to friends in Wellington, he visited the California field. In 1897, when the Klondyke rush attracted attention, he went ther© and encountered terrible experiences through being snowed up in the famous Chilcoot Pass, where hundreds of gold-seekers perished. Mr. Grimmond’s name has been closely associated, with the municipal and political history of the West Coast. He was chosen Mayor of Ross about twenty times, aind was a member or chairman of the Westland County Council until his death. Only last session he took an active part in a representative deputation from West Coast local authorities to Sir Francis Bell and the Commissioner of State Forests on the question of the rights of local bodies concerning timber royalties. He was mainly instrumental in having toe Timber Commission set up. In 1897 he defeated John Beval for the Hokitika seat, which he retained till the dissolution in 1890: , ~ ~ The late Mr. Seddon, who held the Kumara seat, contested Westland in the 1890 election against Mr. Grimmond. Mr. Seddon had a majority of 338 in a vote of 1600. It was at this election that the Speaker, Sir Maurice O’Rourke, was defeated. When the House assembled, the Conservative Government’s candidate for the Speakership (Mr. Rolleston) was defeated bv the Liberal candidate (Sir William Steward), and the Government resigned, being replaced by the Ballance Government. In 1896 Air. Grimmond again contested the n estianct seat, but was defeated by Mr. Seddon by a greater margin than before. In 1918, during tho regime of the National Government, members of Reform and Liberal Parties were , simultaneously appointed to the Legislative Council. Mr. Grimmond was one ot Sir Joseph Ward’s nominees Since that time, said Sir Francis Bell yesterday, Mr. Grimmond was the most popular member of the Upper House. He was a lover of all forms of sport, but spent a good deal qf hls , spare time at billiards. Last session he won th© Legislative Council championship, the trophy for which was a silver cigarette case. He was crairman of the Goldfields Committee of the Legislative Council. . Last year, despite his advancing years, Mr. Grimmond personally conducted a Parliamentary party up the Franz Josef Glacier. The party ineluded Sir Francis Bell and tho Hon. W D. Stewart. He was active up to the time of his death, which caused a profound shock 'to his friends in \\ el-lino-ton when it became known. . A .recognised mining authority m the Legislature, Mr. Grimmond had many business associations with the goldmining industry. He was very successful, and held large holdings in mining companies, including the Ross United, Band of Hope, and Mount d’Or,as well as being part owner of the Back Creek and Ranieri water-races. . , Mr. Grimmond was married twice. Elis second wife was a daughter of the late Duncan Macfarlane, one time Stipendiary Magistrate for. Hokitika.