OBITUARY.

Evening Star, Issue 12804, 4 May 1906, Page 6

OBITUARY.

MB, KEITH RAMSAY. The flag over the Town HaH and the flags of tie business houses in the City were at half-mast to-day in mourning for Mr Keith' Ramsav, who died last night after a somewhat lengthy illness, which had been regarded as critical during the past three months. Dunedin loses a good citizen by Mr Ramsay’s death. He was a straightforward business man of considerable ability, and one who made himself very -useful to the community whilst he had his health. Mr Ramsay was bom in the Manse of Alyth, Perthshire, Scotland, in 1844, his father, the Bov. William Ramsay, being parish minister. He was educated at Blairgowrie, and received his early business training in the office of Messrs Edward Barter and Son, merchants, of Dundee, but he was only eighteen years of age when he sailed from Glasgow in the ship Jura, which arrived at Port Chalmers on the Bth October, 1852. Amongst his fellow-passengers were Mr G. M. Barr, Mr Peter Anderson, Mr Andrew Jopp (of Clyde), and Mr R. Forrest. Here it may be mentioned that four years previously the Jura also brought to the colonv the young lady who became Mrs Keiili Ramsay. On arriving in Dunedin the subject of our notice obtained a position in the office of Messrs Cargill and Co., and afterwards joined the staff of Mes-rs W. DaJrymple and Co. In 1865 he decided to enter into business on his own account as shipping agent, and ths business is still continued, Mr James Beadle, who entered the service as a lad, being yet in the office. The fore-and-aft schooner Cora (Captain John Russell) was one of the vessels he had to do with; others were the schooner Dunedin (Captain Stewart) and the ketch Hope (Captain Gay, who was afterwards lost in the Kate Branc). The first craft in which he bad an interest as owner was the Janet Ramsay (named after his wife). Then he became part owner of the Isabella Anderson, the Maggie Paterson, the Enterprise, and the Martha Reid, all coasting schooners. Mr Ramsay also had interests in the barques Redcliff and Auriga, and another that sailed for him was the Frederick Bassell —she ran to Newcastle for coal, and is now a hulk. About 1875, the days of the sailing vessels being num-b-red, Mr Ramsay, in conjunction with Captain Sundstrmn and others, acquired the steamers Kakanni and Invercargill. The Kakanui being lost, the Napier was bought to take her place, and the Rimn was afterwards added* Mr Rimsay was mairied in 1871 to Miss Janet Douglas, daughter of Mr Archibald Douglas, of the Edinburgh Post Office. Mrs Ramsay is left with three sons and sir daughters. The sons are Mr K. S. Ramsay, who lias been for a considerable time connected with the business ; Mr Douglas Ramsay, solictor, in the office of Messrs Mondy, Sim, and Stephens; and the younger son a medical student at Otago University. Of the daughters, one is the wife of the Rev. John M’Kenzie, of St. Andrew’s Church, Christchurch ; one is the wife of Mr Patuilo, manager of the New Zealand and Australian Land Company; another is the wife of Mr J. Neill Barclay, joint manager of the Dunedin house of Sargood, Son, and Ewcn. Mr Ramsay’s only surviving brother is Dr D. Ogilvy Ramsay, D.D., of Dumfries.

Apart from his business Mr Ramsay occupied many important positions. He was elected to the City Council in 1871, and after serving three years as a councillor was elected mayor, defeating the late Mr H. J. Walter, the voting being Ramsay 1,100, Walter 1,072. A term of eight years on the Otago Harbor Board was for him ■■ period of work, as be was lor three years chairman. The presidency of the Chamber of Commerce also fell o his lot. He was one of the original directors of the National Insurance Company ; also a dire.tor of the Westport Goal Company, Perpetual Trustees and Agency Company, Dunedin Stock Exchange Proprietary Company, and vicepresident of the Dunedin Savings Bank. Ho was connected with various other companies as shareholder or auditor, and was one of the liquidators of the Colonial Bank. For many years he took the keenest interest in the Caledonian Society of Otago, of which lie was president in 1874-75. He was also a member of the Dunedin Bowling Club, on the Chrtha Floods Relief Trust, on the management of the Sailors* Home, and a deacon of First Church- In his early Hie ho wan also connected with the Freemasons and the Oddfellows. One way and the other he had a varied experience of men and maimers.