OBITUARY.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 163, 22 July 1901, Page 2

OBITUARY.

“ I’M DONE FOB, BOYS ! ” That sad and prophetic utterance —“ I’m dons for, boys ! ” —was made on the football ground by as manly a young fellow as ever lived when he was being tenderly removed by sympathising comrades after an accident in tho field of play. It was tho popular Tom Kirk, the prido of his parents and of all who knew him, who was being taken off to a bed from which ho would never rise again. A few minutes before lie had been in tho glow of health and youthful vigor, a grand specimen of physical manhood ; noxt ho was laid prostrate, moro helpless than a child before tho week had quite gone past, his sorrowing parents wero left lamenting, for tho life of thoir dear one had been taken from amongst us. On his bed of sickness Mr Kirk maintained his happy and cheerful disposition, and like the fine fellow that ho was, ho soon thought of others. Lest there should be blame cast on anyone in tho matter, ho particularly desired it understood that tho collision on the field was quite accidental. Those who had witnessed it wero quite convinced of that, but Mr Kirk desired it made known that he, as tho one who had suffered, absolved Mr Porter and all others from blame. While there was life there was hope, and for six days the patient lay, his condition slightly varying. On tho Friday there was a rally that to tho experienced eye was not hopeful, though to some it seemed a splendid chango for tho better, and there was joy among his many frionds as the news of his supposed improved condition was quickly spread around. On Saturday morning, almost as a hushed whisper, it came through tho town, “ Poor Tom is dead! ” All knew what that meant. With feelings of sadness, flags wore placed at half-mast high ; on all business places the mourning shutter told tho melancholy tale. Tom had oxpressed a desire that the football matches should proceed, but in view of his demise all felt that they had not the hoart to play. An emergency meeting of the Union was hold, and soon black-bordered window cards announced that all matches wero abandoned for the afternoon, and other fixtures, such as tho ladies’ hockey match (town v. country), were also abandoned. The deceased was a Hamilton boy, tho eldest son of Mr and Mrs Thomas Kirk, tho father being Clerk of the Court in the Waikato town. Mr and Mrs Kirk and another son reached Gisborne by first steamer (Wednesday), after the sad news of the accident was tclegraphod to them, and they assiduously tended tho lad, everything, of course, being done for him by the medical officer and Hospital staff. Sorrowful though tho affair was, it was a comfort to tho parents and brothers to have beon together at such a time. Deceased was 22 years of ago; lie was in every respect a grand young fellow, an athlete in tho full vigor of his years, but always a gentloman, whether in the calmer moments of life or in the heat of the fray on tho football field. The hearts of the peoplo of this district go out to the grief-stricken paronts and family in their bereavement. Those who had the pleasure of Tom’s closo friendship know the bond of affection there was between him and “ those at homo,” and many a silent tear will bo shod for the esteemed young man besides those of tho grief-stricken parents. Tho body is to bo conveyed to Hamilton, where it will bo interred.

SYMPATHETIC MESSAGE FROM AUCKLAND.

(Special to Times.) Auckland, Saturday. Poor Toni Kirk, who met his sad end at Gisborne, has left behind him a wealth of memory of numerous fond friends in Auckland, Waikato, and undoubtedly in Gisborne. The greatest sympathy is expressed here for his respected parents in their sad affliction. It is, however, a wound which only time can soften, but never heal. Ho has unshrinkingly entered tho vast realm of silence where tho innumerable dwell. A telegram from Gisborne was received in Auckland at midday by his friends to tho effect that Kirk had slightly improved. Other lady friends of the Kirk family herb received a message from Gisborne at 11 o’clock this morning announcing his death, When the telegrams wero compared, excitement prevailed momentarily, but, however, the bad news unfortunately proved too true. The message received at midday was despatched last evening from Gisborne, but the recipients in the excitement of tho moment failed to observe the time the messages were despatched. It is most unfortunate that so many promising young men, on tho threshold of life, should have been cut down from your midst—Messrs Shugar, Barclay, and Kirk. Letters wore posted by to-day’s mail from Auckland by Kirk’s friends, unaware of his death, sympathising with him in his recent accident. May the turf rest lightly upon Poor Tom Kirk 1