OBITUARY.

Evening Post, Volume LIII, Issue LIII, 17 March 1897, Page 5

OBITUARY.

« MR. JOHN DARLING, ONE OP THE FOUNDERS OF THE UNION CO. [by telegbaph— press association.] Dunedin. 16th March. The Union Steam Ship Company received news by cable to-day of the death on Sunday of Mr. John Darling, their Marine Superintendent, who has supervised the building of nearly the whole of the company's fleet. Mr. John Darling was one of the founders of the Union Steam Ship Co. He rank* with Mr. James Mills, the present Managing Director, and Captain Malcolm, as the parents of the red -funnel fleet.' Mr. Darling, it is understood, was a native of Alloa (Scotland), and came out to the colony at an early stage in its history. For some time he held a position as engineer in the harbour tteamers owned by the late Mr. John Jones, and which afterwards merged into the Union Steam Ship Company. In order to make provision for the Union Company's rapidly extending traffic, the deceased gentleman and Mr. Mills visited England about 1873 to secure further vessels. From that time Mr. Darling has acted as representative and superintending engineer of the company at Home, and the value of his professional knowledge is .imply endorsed by the magnificent steamers which now trade in these waters. The company has indeed sustained a serious loss by his death. Mr. Darling had been in failing health for some time past, and he decided to try the effects of a sea voyage by making a trip in the company's new steamer Hawea, now on her way to Dunedin. Finding that his health improved shortly before the steamer took her departure, Mr. Darling postponed his trip. He Jeaves a' family to mourn his loss, of whom ope of the sons, Captain' J. Darling, js now in charge of the Hawea. It will be remembered that Captain Cameron, Marine Superintendent of the Union Company jn New Zealand, went Home several months ago to relieve Mr. Darling in the supervision of the building of new gteamers. Tjie flag! of the steamers in port were at half-masl to-day. MR. C. F. WORTH. "With regret we record the death of Mr. C. F. Worth, of WeJliugton, which occurred while he was passing through Adelaide on his way lo England. A cable message announcing the sad event was received last evening, and the news has particularly affected the members of the Wellington Working Men's Club, with which institution the deceased gentleman had been long connected. Mr. Worth was a native of England, and. was a plasterer by trade. He arrived in the colony between 30 and 40 years ago, and after following his trade in Christchurch fpr a few years he came to Wellington, and with the exception of a Short residence in Napiei has lived here since then. After carrying on the business of a plasterer in thU city fot a considerable period he became a licensed victualler, and was for some time the landlord of the Princess Theatre Hotel, Torystreet, and the Travellers 1 Rest Hotel, Taita. For several years Mr. Worth has been in indifferent health, and the trip which he was making to the Old Country was undertaken in the hope of improving his condition. About six months ago he suffered a severe illness, owing to heart trouble, and his life was despaired of for a time. When he left Wellington three or four weeks ago, in the company of his wife and his youngest son, he was' feeling far from well, and he expressed the fear that he would not reach England alive. The body is to be brought to Wellington for interment. The deceased, who was 63 years of age, took a prominent part in the affairs 'of the Ancient Order of Foresters in Wellington, and at different times occupied various high offices in the Order. A fetv years ago he paid a visit to the Old Country and represented New Zealand at the High Court of Foresters at Ipswitch, and before ho left Wellington on his last trip he was commission to act in a similar capacity at another gathering of the kind about to be held in England. He also took a great interest in local politics, and for several years was an active member of the City Council, discharging his, duties in an able and conscientious manner. He .was at ono time a candidate for the Mayoralty, and he also stood for the House of Representatives. His connection with the Wellington Working Men's Club extended over a number of years. No other member showed a greatejr interest in the welfare of the institution than he did, and on two occasions he was elected ' President. During his residence in Napier he was for a term President of the Working Men's Club there. Mr. Worth was a man of many good qualities, and his widow and family of nine will have the sympathy of a large section of the community in their bereavement. The Premier was probably the last N«w Zealander who saw Mr. Worth alive. They met in Sydney just before Mr. Seddon left, and Mr. Worth was then in good spirits, aud in parting from the Premier expressed the hope that when next they met it would be in London.