OBITUARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6567, 4 December 1882, Page 3 (Supplement)

OBITUARY.

A TiLEGKAM was received on Nov. 0 Irorn Waiwera announcing the death of Captain Skeet, surveyor, Taranaki, which took place on Sunday. Captain Skeet was well known iu Auckland, having been resident here and in the Waikato for a number of years. His age is stated to be 47 year?. He had been for some time previously to his death in failin" health. One by one the old settlers who have seen the rise ot the colony during the early stages of its growth are being removed from amongst us. On the sth November one cf the oldest waa called to her long rest. We alluAe to Mrs. Powditch, the widow of the late Captain William Powditch, who was the first Speaker of the Provincial Council when provincial inHtitutiori3 were first established in the oolony. Mrs. Powditch was living with Mr. Cleghorn at the time of her death. She arrived iu the colony in IS3I, and if not the the oldest colonist iu Auckland, was certainly amongst the oldest.

In our obituary column will be found recorded the death of Mr. Daniel StephenßOH on Nov. 13, at Dunedin, in his 47th year. He will be remembered as having been in business in Auckland some years ago, in Wyud-ham-street, ana the tidings of his early decease will be received with regies b> many of our citizens. He was an enthusiastic Mason, and was a Past Master of St. Andrew's Lodge, iS.C.

Mrs. Morley, whose death is recorded in our obituary, was interred on Nov. 19, in the General Cemetery, Symonds street, a large number being present to pay the last tribute of respect. The deceased was the mother of the Rev. W. Morley, who was recently chairman of the Auckland Wcsleyan Circuit, but now of Christchureh. Mrs. Morley, with her husband and family, arrived here nearly twenty years ago. The funeral service was conducted by the I-lev. J. VVallis.

In our obituary notices is announced the death of Captain E. J. Bylund. From a cablegram received by Mr. W. S. Laurie from Adelaide, we learn that Captain Bylund was lost overboard from the Uanuockburn on October 29ch. Captain Byluud, who is well known here, was formerly chief oflicer of the Clansman. lie leaves a wife and family, who are at present residing in Auckland.

On Mow (3 the i'uhoi settlers buried one of the oldest soldiers in this colony, and, probably, one of the oldest iu Europe. Johu Pittno r, a native of Bohemia, was born iu January, 1795. He joined the Austrian army in 1813, and was a year before the battle of Waterloo in the camp nt Dijon, France, after the first resignation of Napoleon. Pittner arrived in New Zealand in June, ISG3, and has since then been living at Puhoi settlement. The large attendance at his funeral showed the high respect in which he was held. Pittner during his long life never was attacked by any illness, with the exception of a sore leg, which terminated fatally in gangrene. He leaves an aged widow and two married daughters, Mrs. \Y\ Sharpeand Mrs. J. Christman, in New Zealand, and two married sous in Bohemia. He retained his mental faculties up to the last, and passed away quietly in his sleep on November 5. He was a sincerely pious man, and his loss ia regretted by all who knew him.

Our Whangarei correspondent writes on Thursday, the 30th of November: —l have to record the death of Mr. R. M. Fraser, oue of the earliest settlers in Whangarei. Mr. Fraser belonged to Cullen, Bautl'shire, Scotland, and acted as chief clerk for a time under his father for the Right Hon. the Earl of Seafiold, when from his high qualifications he was appointed as secretary under Sir Alexander Spearman, then chiei ef Her Majesty's private department, Somerset House, London. In the year 1850 his health giviug way, he was advised by Her Majesty's physician, Sir James Clark, to try a change of climate, and recommended New Zealand as the most suitable for his complaint, and after a struggle of more than 30 years he has passed away, regretted by all who knew his quiet, kind and friendly disposition. The immediate cause of death was epilspsy.