OBITUARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6590, 1 January 1883, Page 10 (Supplement)

OBITUARY.

Our Mnngawai correspondent irritea : — ?.t is with regret that 1 have to record that Mrs. Sarah Tutin, relict of the late Mr. John Tutin, one of our earliest settlers', and f<;r many years lay-reader here, departed this life at twenty initiates to three o'clock a.m. on November 29, having been ill but a short time. It was noii s-apposed, when first taken,- that anything was likely to succeed, bnt failing strength and age succumbed to the attack. The sympathy felt for the bereaved famity is decs and widespread. The defeased lady has endeared herself to her neighbours and friends by her genuine kindness and aflcctionate behaviour to both young and old. The remains of the deceased lady were interred by the side of her husband. The funeral took place on Saturday, December 12, at which o~er 150 persons were preseiil. It is rdso worthy of remark, as showing Che interest taken by She public in the sad proceedings, that for several hours during the day all business was suspended at the neighbouring hotel ;;nd stores. The burial service was impressively conducted by the Rev. J. Hewson. Previous to lowering the coflin into Ihe grave kind hands had literally raised a pyramid of wreaths and bouquets on tl>': ii.t of the ooflin. Mrs. George Clarke, of Waima'i:*,- passed a-.vay on .Saturday, December 0, at the ripe ags of '/(>. .She was the relict of 'jive late I lie'.'. George Clarke, one of the earliest- ! missionaries in that district, and died in KS7-J, He occupied for some time the post of Frctector of Aborigines, and resided in Auckland, in St. George's Bay, on his property there, which subsequently vfas purchased °«sy Mr. Dlackeit. Mr. Clarke ultimately-'went to Waimate. where he spent' the reinr.'.-'Wlcr of his days. The deceased lady and liir husband were among our oldest settlers, having been over half a century in the province of' Auckland. She leaves six sons and four daughters to mourn their loss, I one of the sons bf.ing Mr. H. T. Clarke, formerly Civil Commissioner or. the Kast I Coast. Mrs. Ludbrook. cf Ohao'.vai, is the only surviving sister of the deceased lady in the colony, and is now in her SOth year. Mrs. Macdonald, wife of the Rev. Alexander Macdonald, of this city, who died a year ago, was also a sister of Mrs. Clarke.

In our obituary column will be found recorded the decease of Mr. Thomas Johnson, of the Windsor Castle Hotel, l'arnell, at the advanced age of 71. The decease was a very old idsntity, and had been in the colony over 40 years. He was in his early days in H.M. navy, and was one of the boat's crew of our first Governor, Captain Hobson, and was

subsequently, if we mistake not, one of the boat's crew of the harbourmaster, the late Captain Rough. Mr. Johnson ultimately took up his abode at Parnell, and started public-house keeping, his hotel being the well-known Windsor Castle—not the present building, but a wooden erection. For considerably over a quarter of a century has he been thus engaged. Owing to failing health lately he was obliged to retire from business. He leaves a wife and numerous family comfortably provided for. The deceased was much respected for his straightforwardness, though blunt and outspoken in his ways. Air. William S. Totten, late of Belfast, has died at Epsom, at the early age of 33. The deceased was for many years connected with the Belfast tramways, as manager, and came out to the colony owing to failing health. He rendered the I directorate of the Auckland Tramway Company very valuable assistance in the way of | supplying information as to the management and working ot street tramways.

Mr. Henry Richards, for twenty years bailiff of the Resident Magistrate's Court, died oil the Sth December at liis house in Parnell. The deceased was a native of Penzance, in Cornwall. He came to the colony in the Ramilies in 1547, under Colonel Bolton, of the Royal Engineers, from which body he retired, after nearly eleven years' service. He was shortly after appointed to be bailiff of the Resident Magistrate's Court under the late Captain Beckham. He has left ten children, some of them able to provide for themselves, and the rest well provided for. The funeral of the late Mr. William Corboy was one of the most numerously attended which has taken place in Kihikihi district. The remains of the deceased gentleman were buried in the Rangiaohia cemetery, the funeral obsequies being conducted by the Rev. Father Luck. Before the corpse was carried from the house to the hearse, the large yard alongside the premises and the square in front of them was crowded with natives, who had come into Kihikihi to hold a tangi over their late esteemed friend. The chief Rewi was with them, and stepping forward he requested that the deceased might not be interred till they had all seen him. The request was complied with, and Rewi himself superintended the arrangement of allowing the natives to pass in one by one, 1 aud take a last look at the deceased before the coffin was closed up. When the coffin was brought out of the house, Rewi said it was customary with his people to address the deceased before burial, and they had met there for that purpose. As their representative he asked to be allowed to speak for them, and to testify to the fact that the deceased had been a good man. He had been kind to the native people, and the report of his goodness had gone forth amongst the native people. Rewi then exclaimed "Farewell, oh Corboy! May you go to the spirits of the just —of the good ! May you be happy in the blissful paradise is the wish of the Maori people and myself assembled here to-day !" Large numbers of Europeans were present at this interesting ceremony. Hiwinui, son of Rotohiko Haupapa, the greatest chief in the Rotorua district, died at Ohinemutu on the 10th December. He belongs to the Ngatiwliakaue tribe. He was a fine young fellow, about '29. A great tangi is being held, and will probably last' a day or two. Large numbers of natives are arriving from all parts to take part in the rhourning, and as the arrivals come in the wailing and songs are renewed. The visitors at Ohinemutu are much interested in the view of native customs they arc witnessing.

The death of the well-known Maori chief, Tirarau, took place on the 20th December, at Wharekohe. He was a fine specimen of the Maori chief of the olden time, a famous warrior of his day, and a staunch friend of the European. Tirarau was highly esteemed by the Northern settlers, far and wide. He lived in European style, and conformed to European usages. For many years he had been a Native Assessor, aud the Government valued his services highly aud appreciated his loyalty. Mr. William Sheehan, brother of the late David and Daniel Sheehan, died on Dec. 21 at the residence of his late brother Daniel, in Nelson-street. Deceased was au uncie of Mr. John Sheehan, M.H.R. He came from New York to Auckland about 16 years ago to joiu his brothers here. He has taken great interest for many years in St. Patrick's Cathedral and was an officer of the church. Mr. Sheehan will be missed by a large circle of friends. He was exactly 73 years of age on the day of his death.