OBITUARY.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2168, 30 July 1897, Page 5

OBITUARY.

The fell sergeant has again been amongst •a, and carried off another of our old identities, in the person of Mr Thomas Grindon, an old miner and pioneer, residing for some years past at Mr M'Cbesney's Junction Hotel, Arthurs Point—where he died on Monday evening at half past six, in the ninetieth year of bis age. The cause of death waa weakness of the heart, a failing which be more especially realised for some little time before, and yet his faculties seem to have been sound to tbe last; and on the Saturday before, Tom was still enabled to read the weekly papers without that adjunct indispensible to about every man or woman not mush more than half his age. Deceased was a native Drogheda, County of Louth, Inland. He arrived in the Wakatipu district at the latter end of 1663—abont a year after die first opening of these goldfields, ■ -and commenced mining in the Shotover river, at the Alabama claim, remaining there for a time. He afterwards worked and had an interest in the old Morning Star chum, Arthurs! Point with M. Griffen, Charles Moss and party, and worked there for ten or eleven years. Thence he went to the Sugar Loaf claim, lower down, where be remained a considerable time. He then relinquished the pick and shovel as a calling owing to increasing age, and was employed at the Junction hotel, where he remained some ten years till the day of his death. Tom was by no means of a nomandic disposition—and it seems a wonder be never got married and settled down comfortably in life—for he never left the banks of the old Shotover daring his 34 years stay in this colony. Notwithstanding the increasing weight of years he was always able to do a little abont tbe hotel, and was treated with every kindness and consideration by Mr and Mrs M'Chesney. At the time of death be was in receipt of charitable aid from the Southland Board. "Tommy," as Mr Grindon was familiarly called, was a general favourite with all, and had a pleasant word for every one he came In contact with. He

had a good memory and could tell yarns for hours of places and stirring incidents in the Old Country. His memory also often proved valuable to miners wanting informaton regarding the auriferous character, in the earlier days, of certain portions of the Shotover, with, every inch of which he was familiar. "Tommy" was also as good as any weather glass, for he could always tell almost to a certainty, exactly how the e'ements were going to shape during the next 24 hours. He was the essence of good nature, for whenever a case of distress was represented, Tommy was ever ready to give hii mite if it was the last pound or shilling he bad in the world.

Mr Grindon's funeral took place on Wednesday, his remains being followed from Arthurs Point to the Queen-town cemetery—where they were interred—by a large number of horseman and other friends in traps. The funeral service was performed by the Rev. Father O'Donnell, parish priest, assisted by Father Maloney, of Oamaru.