OBITUARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 4660, 20 October 1876, Page 3

OBITUARY.

We regret to learn that Dr. R. T. Corbett died at his residence, Tuakau, on Oct. 14, of disease of the heart, after an illness of a few hours; The deceased gentleman -was in town. Oh Thursday last, and appeared to be in good health. He was a native of Glasgow, and was for some years senior surgeon of the Glasgow Infirmary. The deceased gentleman •had;, resided" at Tuakau for some years, and •was very much respected in the district. We regret to announce the death of the Rev. Robert Wa'r'd, who for many years laboured faithfully as a Primitive Methodist minister in the Edwardes-street Chapel, Auckland. He died at Wellington on the 13th instant, of Brighf s disease, in his 61st .year. The Post thus alluded to his decease : —"Mr. Ward is a very old colonist, having been in New Zealand more than a quarter of a century. He was universally esteemed and respected, not only by members of his own flock, but also by the ministers and members of other congregations. He was an eloquent and powerful preacher, and always earnest in every good work." He was the first Primitive Methodist minister that crossed the Equator; arriving in New Zealand in 1544.

In our obituary colnmn will be found notice of the death of Mr. R. Riordan, who expired on the 17th October, after a short illness. The deceased was well known as the assistant o£ Mr. Waller, tobacconist, and also as provedore for the p.s. Golden Crown and other. Auckland' steamers. It is somewhat singular that another brother died within the last fortnight. Mr. Edward Davis, of Kikowhakarere, near Coromandel, died on 3rd Oct., at bis residence. Mr. Davis was a native of New South Wales, and came to Hokianga in 1830,' when a boy. He resided there up to 1841 or 1842, when he came to Auckland with his brother, Mr. C O. Davis. For about seventeen or eighteen years past the deceased has resided at Kikowhakarere. Mr. EdwardDavis probably surpassed every European as a speaker of the Maori language. He had been amongst the natives from his youth ; he could appreciate and understand their every sentiment and feeling ; and he had a great natural aptitude for the niceties of language. He was superior to many of the Maoris in the chanting of their songs. In these deportments, Mr. Davis leaves probably not an equal, and with the change of the circumstances of the country, it will be impossible for any European to reach the excellence which he attained. Few men were better known to the old settlers of Auckland province than the deceased, who was liked by all for his kindly disposition and open-heartedness. It is our painful duty to report the death of Mr. James Thomson, 'flaTmill owner, at Queen's Redoubt. Mr. Thomson came to this district soio.e seven or eight years ago, from.',Canterbury,'and purchased the flaxmill, from Mr. Leatham, enlarging and improving it at a considerable outlay. He continned to work £t till.within the last three or four", months, .when consumption laid its blig^tingj'hand ' upon ' him, resulting on Thursday last, the 28th nit., in .his death. The'respect in'which Mr. Thomson was'held by all whoknew him'waiß amply manifested, by-*'the"Targe number' that followed his mortal remain'B to their last resting-place, in the Pokeno new cemetery, notwithstanding the heavy rain dtrring the whole of the time. He, has left a' widow and eight children to mourn their, loss;. ; i ".'.'• ' __ ' It is with regret we have to chronicle the death of JSergeant Elliott, which took plaoe in the Provincial Hospital on 3rd October. Sergeant Elliott was , stationed for several ' years at .tie Thames, .where he was highly respected. JBLe was - removed to about' three months ago: ; On ' his, lejmpg." the''inhabitanta/ ;:i; of 'the 'Thames \ presented" him with ft 'testimonial,! consisting :flf a. handsome wfctch and chain. 07 Shortly after coming to Auckland his itmgV from-'the , effects of cold, became affected, which necessitated hia removal to the[hospital. He was an efficient officer, and. will be. missed from the police force. Since the above was :.xa. type we have been informed that Sergeant Elliott had formerly been attached to the Victorian police, and afterwards proceeded to Fiji, where he lost a considerable amount ! of money in business transactions. The mortal remains of the deceased were followed to their last resting-place, in the Church of England

•"Wfte Wemtew ot rtabulary' ■*fc uMpps Jftroham ~and L.l hpmpsati and 59R?e *£>"»-«» hearse to the rifco&jaia'; -|J?^ [Gamble, Donovan, and 1 been' selected to pay tbis.laat tribnte'bl fesje'ct'to' the memory of theiridecease>l fm*«4 ser ™ cewM °Vll y £ y $9 Rev. C - M~Nelsonrl4oumbent of St. Paul's Church. | . The Wellington Post .has.a'notice respectKey; Father Petit' Jean, whpdie'd tately in Wellington. It says': "TheßeV e t lt -f eaa &»* born in France on 30th March, 1811, and had, therefore,, attained, the age of 65 years at the time of his death. was a brilliant scholar, aid toot the highest scholastic honors at Lyons, He' was ordained to thepriesthood in 1339, and "•

consequently, has;been -37 years'in holy or . de F?-. .. He came out to, Auckland as a missionary in 1840, and,' on of the late Dr.Viard to the episcbpal see'of Welkngton, Father Petit Jean'accompanied him to this city, where he has laboured ever since up to the hour of his death." ' -We -regret to record the death of Mr. Joshua Lenton, (of the Thames) under somewhat singalar circumstances. 1 Some weeks ago he was climbing from the hold of a steamer lying at Shortland wharf, !wtien he P-' luß an d .. on a steam winch, .Which cut off the points of two of' the fingers. The parts were cut clean off, and dropped into the hold of the vessel. Mr: Lenton, howi ever, seemed to think little of the injury, for, after having his hand bandaged up, he returned to his work. The wound; however,' proved fatal, as mortification set 1 in, with lock-jaw. Mr. Lenton was muohT respected 'by those who knew him. .■-.,:■.■■■> Another of our old and respected settlers (says our Mongonui correspondent) has passed away in the person of Mrl Robert Bruce, at the ripe age of eighty. Ho was a man of little ostentation," and, did not take much part in public affairs," yet he ever manifested a lively interest in all that'concerned the best interests'of this district, and ftrmany years conducting a monthly service on the Sabbath at ihe small church in Oruaiti, nestf this place. I Hitfre-'-"lainw were interred in-the' church! buryiDg' ground on Sunday 10th inst. in-presence of a large concourse of the settlers/, the funeral services being conducted by:Mr.!JB»U. r The' Sabbath school children,'. Ffosser, sane/the well known hymn 'J ? For; ©Wt-jetithr the Lord," an appropriate 'conclusion to the solemn services. Mr.; Bruce was.a native of Scotland, and has been a'resident'in New Zealand for about twelve years..! "He'.lea'vfes a widow and two daughters in tmV placer'