OBITUARY

Evening Star, Issue 16548, 6 October 1917, Page 8

OBITUARY

MR WALTER PATERSON. Mr Walter Paterson, whoso long, busy, and useful life was governed by a zealoiia missionary spirit, died yesterday at tlia residence of {us son. Adam, aged 90 years. He will be remembered best in Dunedin for his educative work among the Chinese. Mt Paterson was tho eldest son of the Rev. Dt Nathaniel Paterson, of Free St. Andrew's, Glasgow, and the great-grandson of the gentleman from whom Sir Walter Scott fashioned his splendid character Old .Mortality. As a youth Mr Paterson was trained in the Exchequer Bank ; Glasgow, but upon attaining his majority the first stirriiigs of the missionary spirit that actuated his whole life sent him k> Ireland at the time of the potato famine. He came to New Zealand in 1868, and took charge of the school at Hokitika, under tho Provincial Government, and in 1870 he_ took a position in tho Otago Boys' High School. Later, poor health compelled him to abandon that profession, and for many years he devoted his time to the education of the Chinese in Dunedin. Ten years ago, in his eightieth year, he detorminod to go to China to undertake missionary work on a bigger scale, but ill-health caused him to break the journey at Sydney, and he never got further. In Sydney, however, he found a great body of Chinese untouched by any religious organisation, and he throw himself into the work of their regeneration with characteristic zeal. And then, unfortunately, he met with an accident in a tram collision, which so weakened him that he had to return to Dunedin two years ago, since which date he lived with his son in Queen street. The old gentleman retained his faculties to tho last, and died surrounded by his whole family, which consists of Mr Nathaniel Paterson (N. and E. S. Paterson), Mr Adam Paterson ( Paterson and Barr), Mr Walter Paterson (well known in insurance circles) Mt K S. Paterson (N. and E. S. Paterson), and Mrs Laing, of Invercargill. MR ALLAN JOHNSTON. Mr Allan Johnston died yesterday at his residence, "BangOT," N.E. Harbor, aged 62 years. Ten years ago he was one of the leading contractors in Otago, and handled some very big "jobs." Ho was bom in Bangor, North Ireland, and came out to Otago shortly afteT attaining his majority, some 40 years ago. For a time he accepted ploughing contracts right through the province; later carrying on a large team contracting business in Dunedin, from which he retired about eight years ago. In earlier days ho bolonged to the Ota,go Hussars, and was known as a keen sporting enthusiast. For eight years he was a member of the Portobello Road Board, to which body his contracting experience was of great value. Some six years ago he was badly kicked by a horse, and though full recovery wa* apparent, he never regained his old vigor.