OBITUARY

Evening Star, Issue 16676, 7 March 1918, Page 6

OBITUARY

THOMAS HENTtY HASKELL. „The- long and much-enjoyed life of M> Thomas Henry Haskell came to a close yesterday. On Friday last he became verv unwell j on Sunday t-h-3 doctor laid that ho was dangerously ill; and he died at 6.20 p.m. yesterday. Ho retained consciousness till trw last. In the morning he read a communication from a relative who resides in the north. Mr Haskell was born in London on NoTember 14, 1819, and -was three years of age when brought from England to Hobarb by his parents. Kis father, a. seafaring man, came out to take uo land in Tanmania, or Van Dieman's Land as it was then called. When 16 vears ,old he joined the publio service of the Grown colony, receiving an appointment in the Magi's* trate's Court, of which he became chief 'clerk. Gaotain Foster ttm the principal magistrate at that tame. The courthonset stood on a corner facing Government House. Subsequently Mr Haskell wis made clerk to the court at Brighton, underCaptain Forster, not the Hobart magistrate, but .the police magistrate "for the district. Penal transportation to Van Dieman's Land was abolished in 1852, and tbieo year; ?ater it was made a frea colony, being the first of the Australasian colonies to receive the privilege of local representative government. This change. as a matter of course, brought about t'na retirement of all the officials in the publio service. They had been appointed by the Imperial Government, and the granting of a constitution meant amongst other things that the colony made its own appointnients. There was, however, a condition attached. The Imperial Government insisted that all the' men serving* under English, appointment must lie provided for by pension or otherwise. Mr Haskell was cue of the many who retired on a pension, and he has received it continuously over since. After leaving the Government employ he took the position of town clerk at Richmond, Tasmanh. He came to Otago, at the suggestion of Mr Fitzclarenco Roberts, about 40 years ago, and became secretary to the Marine Underwriters' Association. In course of time that concern was reorganised, and Mr Haskell retired into private life, declining several offor? in business from commercial men who had learned to respect and trust him as a vc-sult of his highly satisfactory career in Dunedin. During the last 20 years Mr Haskell lived with Mr E. J. P. Denny, at Allandale road, St. Clair, and it was there that ho died. Mr Haskell was thrico married. His first'wife was Miss Luttrell, oUTasmania- ; his second wife her sister ; and after coming to New Zealand ho married Mrs Denny, this marriage taking place in Melbourne, Of his family the best known is Mr Oscar Haskell, who was one of the best Otago cricketers of his day. Those who had the privilege of knowing Mr Haskell will have very recollections of him. Ho had a strong personality. He held decided opinions about men and things, and took sides in all public questions, but he had a nice and cheery way of stating his views without offending anybody. He was singularly alert and bright oven in his old age, and his bodily activity was the subject of amazement. To the day of his death hi* eyesight was so good that he could read quickly without spectacles.

Mr Haskell's reminiscences of early davs in Tasmania were on the lines of Marcus Clarke's revelations, and justified many of tliat writer's sensations. There were 20,000 convicts in the island at one time, many of them on ticket-oi'-leave. Therewas no actual ticket. The process of leave was publication in the 'Gazette.'

In Hobart Mr Haskell once saw six men hanged for forgery, sheep-stealing, and such offences. The gallows held just tha six, three a-side. Parson Bedford used to say that "it held six comfortably, bub seven made a- squeeze." Another tale- that Mr Haskell used to tell was of a man who was sentenced to death by Chief Justice P-edder for a murder under savage circumstances on tha Ln.rmceston side. Hi was hanged and gibbeted. He hanged all night. Tn themorning Chief-constable Mackay asked Mr Haskel! if he would like to go' in and see them hoop him up. They put two hoops around him and connected the hoops wit]-, a swivel and swung him to a tree. Ha wan supposed to hang there till he dropped, but someone v. ho didn't like it cut him down and buried him.

Tho first case that- came before Captain Foreter at Brighton was that of an

assigned servant charged with insolence, or negligence °r something—everything was .1. crime. Each, district had its' fingellator. Ho was sent for. The ca-irtnin told him to cat o'-nine tmls. " Call that a. cat o'nine tails! Til show you what wo have on a man-o'war." R 0 twisted tho tads himself, handed the cat to the man, ordered tho triangle to he set np, and said " Let me see how von fios." Generally the wretch to he fWged'was Hvon. lead to bite. This victim bit it right through. hj

That was Mr Haskell's first day's experience at Brighton. One cannot but wonder how he came through this and other sickening sichts and developed into the kindlv and loveable centleman whom wo knew in Dunndin.

Another old identity of Wellincton. Mrs Sophia. Barber, died on Saturday evening after a long illness. Mrs Barber who was m her 81st year, was born ill Kont, arriving with her parents in tns year 1840 by the ship Martha Ridgwav. and with the exception of a- few years spent in Australia had lived in Wellington ever since. through the trials and hardships of the early .settlers.