THE LATE MR MONTAGU PYM

Evening Star, Issue 12397, 10 January 1905, Page 4

THE LATE MR MONTAGU PYM

A cablegram from Melbourne announcea the death of Mr Montagu Pym. To all bat new Arrivals in Dunedin the naino is perfectly famiiiar, and brings recollections of a somewhat uncommon man—uncommon in that ho dressed particularly -well at a time in Otago's history when to be smartly costumed was a mark of distinction, uncommon also in his English, business -ways, in his generous and cheery manners, and in his versatile aceompUslnnents as an entertainer, for he had a rare stock of jokes and tales that no one ever saw in books or papers. Mr Pym, or, to give him his full name, Mr Montagu Charles Lamb Pym, was born in 1850, at Bedford,, where his father was rector of the Church of England, and received his education at the Bedford Grammar SchooL The family trace descent from" tie grim and sturdy " Bang Pym," who led the way in the impeachment of Strafford, and was one of Cromwell's trusty friends. Several of the members of the family have made themselves well known in modern times. Montagu's brother Guv became MJP. for the County of Bedfordshire, and another brother, Horace, was partner in the notable London firm of fatham. and Co,, solicitors. The subject of our notice served for some time as accountant in the office of one of the big railway companies in England, and came to New Zealand in the early seventies. After landing he was appointed paymaster at Invercargill for the firm of Brogden. and Son, who had contracted with the New Zealand Government for the construction of certain lines of railway and the introduction of immigrants. In 1873 he was transferred to Dunedin, and was present at the opening of the Chain mile tunnel on the Ist June, 1875, concerning which event it may bo mentioned that ne and Mr J. C. Marshall were the first of the viators to squeeze through tho opening made by the navvies. In the early part of 1875 he married Miss Fanny Clayton, daughter of the New Zealand Government architect. Tho marriage took place in Wellington. • Sir Julius Vogel married the eldest of Mr Clayton's daughters. Mr and Mrs Pym went on a trip to the Old Country, and were absent for the greater part of a year. They camo baek to Wellington, and decided to settle in Dunedin, where Mr Pym opened in business as auctioneer and land agent, starting in a small office close to the Occidental Hotel, in Manse street, aud afterwards shifting to R. B. Martin's building in High street. His brisk and genial wavs, coupled with a spirit of enterprise, soon made his business prosper, and he became a man of importance in trading and financial oiroles. Then camo the land boom in Melbourne, and this tempted him across the Tasman Sea. He sold out to Mr B. O. Reynolds, and in June of 1888 went to Melbourne, and became a member of the Stock Exchange there. Before leaving lie was entertained at a dinner in the Grand Hotel,'when Sir. Robert Stout presided. In Melbourne, as in Dunedin, he made money and lost it, repeating the operation over and over again. He won in business and lost in minmg. One- of his best "rises" was at the outbreak of the West Australian, goldfields, whither he proceeded on behalf of a Melbourne syndicate. Two years ago he came across to visit old friends, and was the guest one evening of the Fernhill Club, an establishment of which he acted as secretary in the old days. Latterly his health broke down, and after spending some time in a private hospital ho passed away on Sunday night from heart failure, leaving his widow with five children to remember him as a kind husband and an indulgent father. On receipt of the news of the death the Dunedin Stock Exchange, at their call-over this morning, resolved to send a letter of condolence to the Melbourne Stock Exchange. We have referred above to Mr Pym's gifts as an entertainer. Though chiefly reserving this faculty for private use, Mr Pym came to the front in public on' two occasions in the cause of charity. Old residents will well remember the celebrated performance of ' Patience' by amateurs at the Lyceum in August of 1885. It will revive recollections to give the cast in full: Colonel Calvedey. Mr E. 0. Lloyd Major Murgatrcyd Mr M. Sweet Duke of Dunstable-....Mr'Y. Wardrope Bunthome Mr Montagu Pym Grosvenor Mr C C. Kettle Solicitor .Mr Hodgkins Lady Angela, Miss Vivian Lady Sftphir . Miss M. Johnson Lady Elk. Miss A. Roberts Lady Jane._ „...Miss Sweet Patience .Miss Fosbery Previous to this date tho only Bunthome we had seen was Howard Vernon's, but it was conceded by the critics that Mr Pym's impersonation camo out well even by such a, severe comparison, whilst Mas' Fosbery's Patience was aceptable to all those who had earlier seen Alice Rees and Elsa May in. the part. Then in August of 1887, at the Princess Theatre, amateurs played 'lolanihe,' which had been seen here only once before-—viz., when Elsa May played the part. The amateurs' cast was as follows:

Lord ChaoceEor. T _,..Mr Montagu. Pym Earl of Moimforarat Mr Dowling Earl Tolloller Mr J. 0. Kettle Private Willis. ... Jtf r Booth Strephon 3ir G. BL Collier Qneen of Fairies Mrs Boss lolttnthe„...___ Mrs G. C. Israel Leila Miss Ethel Jones Ce&u Miss Daisy Ross Fkita..„ __— —,—Mrs Dowiing

Phyllis Miss Jolmam Faiiksrj Mrs Booth, Mrs Canb-ell, Mrs Dicker, Mrs Isaacs, Miss Belcher, Miss Catomorc, Miss Ghxnton, Miss M. MaifcUnd, Miss V. Maifcland, Miss Elliott, Miss Gflkison, Miss Jjtgo, Mfes Hvfbjgstoa6, Miss MacNeill, Miss M. Muc&erras, Miss B. Mackerras. Peers: Messra 0. Branigao, D. Cargffl, A. E. A. Clarke, W.. H. Chnrtoso, S. J. Oantrell, G. Fenwick, H. Fulton, P. Fulton, HoDflway, D'Arcv Hazgitt, G. 0. Israel, W A Moore, C. Pike, G. Sianrright, Digby Smith, and Wilkinson.

'lohathe' proved a great success, and to this day tfee caperings and tie strictly legitimate elaboration of the ChtmceHoT's part as shown by Mr Montagu Pym are spoken-of aa extraordinarily clever for aii amateur.