OBITUARY

Evening Star, Issue 12647, 30 October 1905, Page 3

OBITUARY

MR ALFRED SAUNDERS. Air Alfred Saunders, who had been in failing health for some time, died at Christchurch at four o’clock on Saturday afternoon. He was bom in Lavington, Wiltshire, England, in 1820, and was brought up as a farmer and 1 miller. Ho arrived in Nelson in 1842, and was closely identified with the Nelson provincial district for twenty-five years. He was elected a member of tho Nelson Provincial Council, for Waimca South, in 1855, and represented that district, continuously until he became Superintendent of the province. He was re-elected Superintendent in 1865, but resigned in 1867 to visit England. In 1859* be was elected member for Waimea, and in the year following be was offered and declined the position of Colonial Treasurer in the Fox Ministry. The deceased remaned in England from 1867 to 1371, when he settled in Canterbury. He was then elected member for Cheviot, being re-elected in 1879. In 1880 he was appointed rihninnan of tho New Zealand Civil Service Commission, whoso report led to the removal of the Chief Railway Commissioner in each island, together with a large number of other officials. From 1889 to 1891 he sat as member for Lincoln, and from 1891 to 1835 for Selwyn, being defeated in 1896. The publications by Mr Saunders include ‘ Oar Domestic Birds’ (in 1883), ‘ Our Horses’ (in 1885), and a ‘History of New Zealand.’ Deceased hod been prominently connected with educational movements. He was frequently elected a governor of Nelson College and of the Ashburton High School, and Wits a member of tie Nelson and Nortitf Canterbury Education Boards. He was first married in 1847, and five sons and three daughters are living. His wife died in 1898, and he married again in 1899 while

on ft visit to England. Since bus retnm from England a couple of yams be bad beat in failing hearth. . CNw of ms son* » Mr S. efflar of the ‘lfttdtoo Times,’ and another i» Mr W. Srauen, of Otawtan, Southland.