OBITUARY

Evening Star, Issue 16627, 9 January 1918, Page 6

OBITUARY

Mr Frederick George Stone,- who died at Invercargill on- Monday, emigrated from London to Victoria in 1862, and a few months afterwards came to Otago, where he had gold-mining experience at Tuapeka and the Duustan. Mr Stone next movod to Wellington, and finally settled in Invercargill in March, 1863. He made a start with farming, but afterwards carried on business as a forwarding agent for a short time, before being appointed inspector of works for the Borough of Invercargill. He subsequently served in a similar capacity xuider tho Government, and also with the Southland County. He afterwards took up road contracting on his own account, but went back to farming on the Oteramika road. Mr Stone served for seven years on the Invercargill Road Board, of which he became chairman, and was afterwards a member of the Invercargill Borough Council. He had been visiting justice and official visitor to the Invercargill Prison for a number of years. Tho deceased was also a prominent member of the M.TJ.1.0.0.F. The doath occurred on Christmas Day in Adelaide of tlie Rev. Dr James Jcfforis. Dr Jefferk was born at Bristol, England, in April, 1833. He arrived in Australia in 1859, and became pastor of the North Adelaide Congregational Church, where he remained until 1877, in which year he became pastor of the Pitt Street Congregational Church, Svdnev. In this latter .position he remained' until 1890. lie in that year returned to England, and after being for one year in charge of the Now College Chapel, London, proceeded to Torquay, whore lie was pastor of"the Congregational Church until 1894. ' • In that year ho returned to North Adelaide, and resumed his pastorate there, retiring in 1901. He was twice married.

Mr Alfred Bussell Clemes, tho " grand old man " of Stawell, Victoria, died a few days ago at the age of 88 vears. He was a native of St. Austell, Cornwall, England, and went to Victoria in 1852. For 44 years he occupied the position of secretary of the Stawell Shire Council, and ■was secretary of 'the Wimmera United Waterworks Trust for more than 30 years, until that body was taken over by tho State Rivers and Water Commission. He was one of the founders of the Stawell Hospital in 1858, and occupied a seat on tho committee from that date until his demise, being twice elected -president. He was one of the first firemen in Stawell, and . one of the oldest members of the Mechanics' Institute, of which he was several times president. There was hardly a society in the town with which he had not been associated in hjs day. The death is reported of another pioneer, Mr R. L. C. Birch, J.P.. formerly of Kimbolton, well-known in the early davs of Marton. B'orn at Denbigh, Wales, he came out to the Australian diggings. After a few years he landed at Dunedin (1865), was lured to the West Coast by rumors of gold on the Grey, and claimed to be one of the first white men on that coast. He went through the usual exciting experiences, and was in the midst of, tho operations of the notorious Burgess' ga-ng._ Mr Birch eventually settled in the R-a-ngitikoi district. Mr H. W. Antill, who died at Kumeroa, Hawke's Bay, on Friday last, was formerly manager of the Union Bank of Australia- in Napier, and had retired. He was 63 vears of ago. For some time he had been in failin? health. The death of Mr Thomas Roberts,, a highly respected resident of Henderson, removes a well-known identity of that He was a native of Rorrington. Shropshire, and came to this, Dominion nearly half a century ago. Last April he celebrated his golden wedding. Mr Roberts was 85 years of ago. From Te Aroha comes news of tho death suddenly from heart disease of Mr G. P. Parker, an accountant. Mr Parker spent his earlier years in Christchurch, during which period he was a much-valued contributor of dramatic notes to the ' Weekly Press,' writing under tho pen name " Old Stager." A P.A. message from Wa-itara. announces the death of Mr Joshua Jones, aged 73. The deceased was well.known, in "connection with land claims against the Government, and better known as "Moka-u" Jones.