OBITUARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5395, 3 March 1879, Page 2

OBITUARY.

THE LATE MAJOR GORDON. Major William Gordon, so well kuown in connection with the Volunteer affairs of the Northern District, died at hia residence in Onehunga, on Feb. 12th, having been ill since October la3t. His tirst military experience was giined while serving as an en&ign in the 73rd Highlanders, which regiment he joined is 1554. He served for a time in the Crimean war, and was promoted to the rank of lieuteuant in ISSS. He occupied the post of adjutant to the 73rd for seven.years. He was remarkable for knowledge of military affairs, aud during his connection with the Imperial forces was much loved and rcspected by both the officers and men of the regiment. Having eft the Imperial army, he was appointed coinmauder of the Militia aud Volunteer forces in this district. Here his taleuts as a military man were brought into full play, and the result of his experience was soou seen in the increased efficiency of the force he controlled. A strict disciplinarian, he wen the esteem of ail by his impartial administration of military affairs. He was highly esteemed by both officers and men. On the formation of the Auckland Rifle Brigade he was appointed to the command ot that body. About two years he retired from the military offices htr held in this district, but was appointed Inspector of Volunteers about six months since. Sho»tly after this appointment, he was attacked by the illness which terminated fatally as above. In private life Major Gordon wa3 a thorough gentleman, and greatly respected by all who knew him. Tho funeral took place on Friday, the 14th of February. The cortege started from the late residence of the deceased in Onehunga about 3 p.m. The various Voluuteer companies assembled at the drill-shed at 2.30, and proceeded soon after to the cemetery, under command of Major Derrom, to await the arrival of the remains. A very large number of citizens also attended. The funeral arrived shortly after 4 p.m., and the coffin wa3 removed to the grave, which had been prepared in the public cemetery. Captain Burns, and Lieutenants Kelly, Robinson, and Payue acted as the pall-bearers. The casket was one suitable to the rank and character of the deceased. It bore the simple inscription—"William GordoD, died Feb. 12, 1579. Aged 42 years."—Mr. James Robb, undertaker, Onehunga, had charge of the funeral. The Volunteers followed the remains to the grave,—a large gatherimg of friend* and ; relatives of deceased being present. The ceremonies were conducted by the Rev. i Thomas Hamer, of Onehunga, who, after the usual ceremony, spoke brieffy as to the , character of the deceased. He referred to the enlogiums of the Press, and stated that Ihe could endorse them as true. Deceased was a thorough gentleman, a Christian, and a man whom all could love and respect. As his minister for nine or "ten years past, the speaker had been brought frequently in contact with him. He devoted much time to reading, was a sound thinker, and always acted after mature consideration. During the last few weeks of his life the speaker had been with him a great deal. Then, as ever, though weighed down with sickness, he was the same—a man commanding respect from all, and close friendship and love from those who knew him intimately. He was a sincere Christian, and just before his death, passed much of bis time in reading over Christian hymns and in religious discourse. He called upon tho soldiers to emulate the example of the deceased. The remains were then lowered into the grave, and the assemblage left the grounds, the Volunteers marching ba?k to the drill-shed, where they were disbanded. The Volunteer corps intend placing a monument over Major Gordon's grave.

THE LATE HAND LEY B STERNDALE. ~~ Our obituary column,' in another pa 2e contains the announcement of the death of Mr. Handley Bathurst Sterndale, a man -who was well-known in tbis city. Mr. Sterndal died on Christmas Day, in San Francisco 6 He wa3 a man of remarkable force of character, possessed of keen observation of men and things, and his life wa3 a most eventful one. Many of our readers will recollect the well-written, clever, and graphic descrintinna of life in the South Sea Islands which he had published in our columns. They told their own tale of the manners and customs of the natives of the various groups, and the vicissitudes of life in those islands. He had received a liberal education, but preferred the freedom and independence of the Bohemian life which he adopted, and although a man of by no means a strong constitution he possessed undaunted bravery, joined with a tact which carried him through manv imminent dangers. Mr. Sterndale°was born in India. His father was a native of Derbrshire, England, and his mother, Margaret Crawfuird, was a native of Ayrshire, Scot land. He war. educated in the High School Edinburgh. He was precocious and readv at his lessens, but very wild as a vouth. It is related of him that with his firat pocket money he bought a pistol, and created con! siderable alarm amongst the peaceable reai" dents by firing it off in a reckles3 manner The police took him in charge and locked him up. When he was next day brought before the magistrates he avowed his name He wa3 liberated from custody, principally through the influence of his uncle, Lord Ardnullan, of the Court of Session. 'Before his education was completed he left hia home ran away to sea, leaving his affectionate mother in ignorance of his departure or destination. He wandered nearly all ove _ the world, landing first in South California, from whence he went 'through Central America. His wonderful capacity for nick ing np languages enabled him to go through some really terrible adventures during this journey, many of which he used to relate in a quiet, unostentatious maimer, as if thev were everyday experiences. After this he returned to England, but did not remain long ; the quiet life of England not suiting his restless, adventurous disposition ; so he shipped as supercargo of a vessel bound for San Francisco. It was from this starting point that his Island career commenced Leaving San Franciico, ha traded through the islands of the Pacific, and during this expedition he experienced some thrillinu adventures. Ho was cast away on one island, where he was detained by the natives two or three years. After knocking about the Islands of the Pacific for about seven years, he came for the first time to Auckland about six years ago, when he published a Beries of interesting papers upon the commercial resources of the Pacific Islands, life thereon, &c. He had at this time travelled through the principal parts of China and Japan, and he spent several years in India - and such was his capacity a3 a linguist, that he had made himseif acquainted with many of the languages or dialects of Central America, India, the Malay Archipelago, and the natives of the Pacific Islands, North and South. He got married in Melbourne, and his wife followed his eventful fortunes in the South Sea Islands for many years, undergoing many hardships and privations without a murmur. For some time Mr. Sterndale was interested in a trading station on Suwarrow Island, in company with Messrs. Henderson and Macfarlane of this city, bnt the venture did not prove successful. Mr. Sterndale's health while he was in Auckland was by no means good, and he decided to go to America, where ho was accompanied by his wife, and where, as already stated, he expired on Christmas Day, after a long illness, which he bore with that unflinching bravery which throughout characterised his career. Mrs. Sterndale's relatives, we believe, reside in Napier, so that it is probable she will now return to New Zealand. THE LATE M 133 BOI'LAN". A Tauranga correspondent sends the following relative to the death of Miss Boylan, daughter of Mr. T. Boylan, and niece of Mr. J. T. Boylan :—The sudden and melancholy death of Mis* Fanny Boylan, who has visited Tauranga for a successive number of years ever since she was a child, will create great grief and concern amongst her numerous friends in Tauranga as well as in Auckland, as she had endeared herself to everyone who had the happines3 to know her, by her sweet and amiable disposition. Mias Boylan had been a sufferer for many months from acute pain in her chest, which bafiled her Auckland physicians, as she sometimes seemed perfectly well. A change of air being deemed advisable she was brought to Tauranga, where, after a week's severe illness, she succumbed to what was afterwards discovered to be an incurable disease. She passed away without any pain and in perfect consciousness to the end. She asked for the xiv. chapter of St. John to be read, and joined with a clear sweet voice in all the prayers and hymns. She bade an effectionate good bye to all present, and sending her love to the absent, her gentle spirit passed away to the realms of everlasting peace. She was buried in the beautiful little cemetery of Tauranga, the service being rendered by the Ven. Archdeacon Brown, with whom she was always an especial favourite. The funeral was large and most impressive. She was borne to the grave by her sorrowing brothers and several young friend-, followed by a number of young ladies dressed iu white, carrying wreaths of flowers, which they cast upon the coffin as it was lowered into the grave.