MARRIED.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXVI, Issue 150, 14 December 1867, Page 2

MARRIED.

On the 11th of December, at the residence of the bride, by Rev. J. Davis, Joseph Webly, junior, to Helen, eldest daughter of Joseph White, BridgeBtreet, Nelson. DIED. On the 12th December, in his 81st year, George White, Esq. The deceased gentleman, educated at Eton, was a contemporary of many of the' statesmen of the lust generation, with whom he afterwards maintained an intimacy while acting as Clerk of Committees in the House of Commons, an office which he held from about the year 1810 to 1839. Mr. White emigrated to Wellington among the first body of settlers, and w%s sent to Nelson in the capacity of Police Magistrate, on the death of H. A. Thompson, Esq., a victim of the Wairau massacre, in June, 1843. On the arrival of Captain Fitzroy in New Zealand, Mr. White was dismissed from office for the assigned reason of having " Voltaire's Philosophical Dictionary " on his book-shelf, where it had been seen by Sir Everard Home, commander of H.M.S. North Star. This dismissal • was communicated to Mr. White by Captain Fitzroy immediately on the arrival of the latter in Nelson, with the intimation that he was only to hold office till a suitable successor could be found. On hearing this, Mr. White desired the Governor to appoint a successor at once, refusing to hold the appointment any longer. This did not suit the views of the newly-arrived Governor, who told Mi. White he should expect him to perform the duties until he could find a successor for him. This the other would not listen to, and in words which savoured more of strong will than courtesy, told Governor Fitzroy he would not act another day. On the meeting of the first Provincial Council in Nelson, in November, 1853, Mr. White was appointed clerk, an office which he held up to the tiuie of his death, and it is only a little more than a month since, on the close of the late session, that the members presented to him a gold watch and chain. Mr. White had then been ailing for several days, but with a hopefulness which was so much a part of his nature, he thought a little rest — or, as he styled it, a " run at grass " for the summer would bring him round, and when the Council met again hi the autumn, he should be fresh and ready for bis work. This was not to be ; on the Council breaking up the old gentleman took almost immediately to his bed, and never afterwards left tbe house. His death took place a little after eleven o'clock on Thursday night, and he possessed the full use of his faculties to the last moment — his spirit passed away as gently as that of a child. From the kindliness of his nature, and the broad spirit of philanthropy which pervaded all his actions, Mr. White was a universal favourite, and while his cheery voice will bo long missed in many home circles, all his friends must rejoice that the poor old gentleman was spared the suffering inherent to a long and tedious illness His funeral takes place to-morrow, starting from the Provincial Hall (where his body will be conveyed on the preceding evening), for the new cemetery, at three o'clock in the afternoon. Mr. White bequeathed all his papers and books to the Nelson Ethological and Phrenological Society. These contain voluminous correspondence, and many curious and scarce works.