OBITUARY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXX, Issue 10104, 1 August 1893, Page 5

OBITUARY.

JOHN OLLIVIER. We regret to have to announce the death of Mr John Ollivier, one of Canterbury’s early settlers, which took place last evening at hia residence, Ferry road. Mr Ollivier was born in England iu 1811, and consequently was ia his eighty-second year at the time of his death. For twenty years he carried on the business of publisher in the City of his firm claiming the honour of having published Kingl&ke's “ Esthers.” While so engaged he initiated the Corn_Law League, a Society which flourished for some years under the Presidencies of the | Dukes of York and Richmond. Having i abandoned this lino o’ business, Mr j Ollivier came out to New Zealand in the j ship John Taylor, arriving iu Lyttel- j ton in the year 1853. He at first ; turned hia nitsntion to farming pur- ) suits, and selected laud on tho Lower Lincoln road, opposite where the Mount Magdala Asylum now stands. After farming this for a few years, he came to town and built the house ou the Ferry road in which be resided up to the time of hia death. He entered the Provincial Council, and, while a member of that body, carried on an auctioneering business in conjunction with his son Claude, in premises where the Grain Agency Buildings now stand. Ha took very great interest in all matters concerning the Province. Ho retired from business to taka the position of Provincial Secretary under Mr Moorhousc’s Government, and at times held several offices, including that of Speaker to the Council. Oa his appointmen I; to tho office of Provincial Secretary he was the first to propose the construction ot the Lyttelton and Christchurch railway, and assisted to carry through the Council the proposal to connect the Port and tha plains by means of the tunnel. Ha was always a staunch supporter of Mr Moorhouse, arid that gentleman, at the time he defeated Messrs Lance and Travers for the Superintendency, referred to Mr Ollivier as Canterbury’s wet nurse, an appellation which stuck to him for a number of years. On hia retirement from the Speakership of the Council he was appointed Provincial Auditor, which position he continued to hold until the Provinces were abolished, afterwards holding o somewhat similar office under the General Government. He was afterwards superannuated and given a pension. Ho was Chairman of the City Council in 1864, and he also held the office of Resident Magistrate at Lyttelton and Christchurch. He always took the keenest interest in anything that waa for the good of his adopted country, and was ready at all times to assist in any work of charity. It was only necessary to enlist his sympathy in any matter to ensure a large sum ot money being raised for any deserving object, and hia powers as a "sturdy beggar” .are known to all tho older sattlers. He only once stood for election to Parliament, when ho was defeated by the late Mr Humphreys. Ilia golden wedding was celebrated about four years ago, but since fchiit time he has lout hia wife. He was well-known throughout the Colony of New Zealand, but better known to tho people of Canterbury as a public-spirited mar.—a man who made it his business to identify himself with tho people in all their legitimate and clearly-expressed desires. Last February he had the misfortune to buret a blood-vessel on tha brain, and has been more or loss confined to his house since that time. He appeared to be getting on as well as could bo expected, but during the last day or two symptoms of congestion of the bowels showed themselves, and yesterday morning the medical men pronounced his case hopeless. He passed away peacefully at seven o’clock last night. Ho leaves six sons and two daughters. Mr A. M. Ollivier (of Ollivier and Grierson) and Mr Walter Ollivier, cashier at the railway station, are the only two sons in Christchurch. 0)9 daughter is unmarried, while the other ia the widow of the late Mr K. P. CrosDie. The funeral will take place at tha Heathcote cemetery on Thursday. WILLIAM EINLOCH SPROTT. It ia with deep regret that we announce tho death of oao of New Zealand's most promising artists, Mr W. K. Sprofcc, who Las j ast died at tho early age o? 20. He had suffered for a considerable time from an affection of the throat, and, in the hope of obtaining relief, hs went, a few months a go, to the North Island, and yesterday morning a telegram was received from Auckland announcing his death. Mr Sprott, who was born on Oct. 14, 1864, at Dunedin, was u son of the hue Andrew Sprott, solicitor, and was educated at tho Boys’ High School, Dunedin. On removing to Christchurch Mr Sprott was for some years employed as a clerk in tho Standard Insurance Office and was then transferred to Auckland. Thera ho was for a time a pupil in the studio of Mr Steele. His health giving way, ho want to England, and in London and Boris visited the principal art galleries, wherein he was moat impressed with the work of Stanhope, Forbes and the Newlyn School. From early boyhood he had manifested extraordinary aptitude for artistic work, and it is to be feared that the devotion of every spare moment to his favourito pursuit had a detrimental effect upon his health. All who have seen bis pictures will be fuliy aware of.their great promise—they evidenced idealisation of the chosen subject, good composition, rich and harmonious colouring. Sprott was a lover of Art for Art’s sake, and all his impressions were derived direct from Nature.

Mr G. Herbert EUiofct, the Principal of the School of Art, writes:—Mr Sprofct came to the school in 18S7, and showed remarkable aptitude, pasting quickly through tbo various branches. He loft at the end of 1883, and spent the following year at Home. Its turning in 1890, he took the highest prize- in tho school for art work—“paiut’-ug from life in colour.” la this year he was appointed an ssudstaafc, being made a full-time master in 1801. At tho does of that year, partly owing to failing health, and partly to a desire for more time to devote to painting, he resigned his position. Since then he has made rapid strides in Ids profession. His same occurs for the first time as an exhibiting member of tho local Art Society in 1800, and it was not long before he had won his way to the front rank, works from Ida brotsU being hung “on the line ” every year since. His pictures were always characterised by wonderful grace of composition and harmony of colour, and in any future work on the history of Hew Zealand Art hie name will occupy no insignificant place, for though bis career has been so sadly broken whoa there was every prospect of a brilliant future, ho baa nevertheless produced some works which will keep him in remembrance. Hie brother artists are keenly affected by the news of his death, for his was a lovable character, genuine, sympathetic. liia loss will be felt for a lifetime by those who Irnev him best. The body will be brought to Christchurch for interment.