OBITUARY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17529, 12 July 1917, Page 6

OBITUARY.

JOHN DAVISON. The news of the sudden death of Mr John Davison, clerk of the Upper Ashburton Road Board, which took place at his residence,. Walnut Avenue, yesterday afternoon, will ho received with deep regret by his largo circle of friends in Ashburton county. Mr Davison, who had not been well during the last few days, was on Tuesday evening seized with paralysis and shortly afterwards lapsed into unconsciousness. He was sixty-two years of age. Ho arrived in Ashburton in 1875, and for a time was employed as a bookkeeper a t Wester field. He was afterwards appointed clerk of tho Upper Ashburton Read Board, which position ho hold for thirty years He had also held the position of • Deputy Official Assignee in the district for a similar period. Twelve years ago he took over the secretarial work in connection with the High School Board. Ho was elected to the Ashburton Borough Council in 1899 and held office continuously until April, 1915. He was chairman of the Works Committee and the Domain Board for many years, and was also Deputy Mayor for several years. He took a very keen interest in the Ashburton Racing Club and tbc Ashburton Trotting Club. He was treasurer to the former body for many years and was recently re-elected as a member of the committee. He was also a steward of the Trotting Club. Mr Davison’s first, wife died about ten years age. He leaves a widow and three children. As soon as the news of his sudden death was announced yesterday afternoon flags were flown at half-mast from the Ashburton High School and the Borough Council Chambers. JOHN PARISH. Ono of the pioneers of Ferry Road,

Mr John Parish, passed away at Bedcliffs on- Friday morning. Air Parish was sixty-two years of age and "ns the second youngest son of the late Mr William Parish, who came to Aew Zealand in the Cressy, one of the first four ships. Mr John Parish was born on tho Ferry Road in 1851. His father took an active part in laying out and forming what, was, at that time, a most important thoroughfare. As a boy Mi John Parish received his education nt St. Michael’s School, and later on started contracting. Under lus supervision some of the principal streets and roads in Linwood, Kaituna, Ashburton, Governor’s Bay and other country districts were formed. Ilis teams carted the first load of stone for the walls of tho Christchurch Cathedral. His contracting days wore responsible for much useful work in Canterbury. Mr Parish thou turned his attention to farmmg, working farms in Shirley, Templeton and Woolston, a great part of Ins life being spent on his dairy tarm, Dyer’s Street, Woolston, which ho acquired somo twenty-seven years ago. He sat, on the first Woolston Borough Council, -being made chairman of tho Works Committee, for which his contracting experience stood him in good ■stead. Ho always took a keen intoicst in the welfare of Woolston. Air Parish was well known as a dealer at Addington salevards and was at one time a familiar follower of trotting, and owned some good .old-time trotters. Ho was recognised as' a, generous supporter oi any sports movements in the district. He patiently endured much suffering during the three years of his illness. Mr Parish leaves a widow, two sons and two daughters, hollowed by Ins near relations he was laid to rest in the Linwood Cemetery on Saturday.