OBITUARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7171, 10 November 1884, Page 2 (Supplement)

OBITUARY.

DEATH OF THE REV. JAMES BULLER. Br a telegram from Christchurch we learn that the Rev. James Buller died on November 6 at noon at Christchurch, after a lingering illness, at the ripe age of 72. The tidings will .be received with feelings of sincere regret by many of our citizens by whom he was greatly esteemed and respected. His name was a household word throughout the colony, and the' following particulars concerning his lengthy and useful career will not be without interest to our readers:— The late Rev. Jamea Boiler arrived in New Zealand in the early part of the year 1836, and, in connection with the late Rev. Nathaniel Turner, was located on the Wesleyan Mission. Station, Mangungu, in the Hokianga district. During his residence on that station he acquired such a knowledge of the' Maori language as qualified him to take the charge of a newly-formed Mission Station near the head of the Hokianga River. In that locality he spent a successful year of missionary toil, on the termination of which he was stationed at Kaipara, where he obtained considerable influence among the natives, several of whom (through his labours) became decided Christians. After a'successful employment of his talents in that dißtriot during a course of several years he was appointed to labour almost exclusively in the English department of the Ministry. The esteem' in which he was held by his ministerial brethren and the talent he possessed for conducting the general business' of the Church to which he belonged secured for him the highest honour which that Church could confer — his being twice elected . to the Presidential chair. Ho was superintendent of the Auckland circuit some 12 or 14 years agp, and afterwards laboured at the Thames. His last station was Christchurch, 'where he has since resided. He leaves a' widow, four sons, and a daughter to mourn their loss. The sons and I daughter are all married, one of the former being Dr. Buller, of Wellington. The death of Mr. Buller causes another gap in the fast diminishing band of the early missionaries of the country, and removes another link binding the Fast to the Present in the history of New Zealand. He published a work on New Zealand, in which he embalmed his early reminiscences of missionary enterprise and colonisation, and these were of a most interesting character.

In oar obitnary column will be seen the obituary notice of an old Auckland resident, Mr. John Leek, who died on the 13th October, at his residenee, Cheltenham Beach, North Shore. He will be remembered as connected with Messrs. J. Cosgrave and Co.'s drapery/premises, in Canada Buildings, and subsequently went into business in partnership with Mr. F. J. Somerfield. under the style of Somerfield and Leclc. On the dissolution of partnership, Mr. Leek took the. premises vacated by Mr. William Rattray, in St. Mungo Buildings, where he carried on business for some time afterwards, disposing of. his interest to Mr. Sneddon, since which he has lived in retirement. The deceased was of a 'genial disposition, and his decease is. regretted by a large oircle of friends. It will be seen 'from our obituary column that another old identity has passed away, in the person of Mr. W. J. Marks, of Mount St. John. He arrived here over a quarter of a century ago,, and assisted in erecting the first gasworks in Auckland—that for lighting with gas the premises of the late New Zealander newspaper, in Shortlandstreet. Mr. Marks afterwards established himself in the plumbiDg business in Chapelstreet, where he carried on a successful trade for many years till his retirement from active life. Of late his health has been very indifferent, and about two years ago •he waß struck with paralysis. • The deceased, who was well known and respected in Auckland, leaves a widow, and one son. Another very old identity has , passed over to the great majority in the person of Mrs. Maurice Kelly of the Wade. Mrs. Kelly came to the colony in .1841, arriving in Auckland with her first husband, Mr. John j Fair. She subsequently married Mr. Maurice Kelly, and resided for a short time in Kaipara, but since then Mr. and, Mrs. Maurice Kelly have been resident at the Wade, where their whole-hearted hospitality and geniality made their residence the .moat popular in the district. Mrs. Kelly expired on October 31 at the residence of Mrs. Ricketrt, Ponaonby, She leaves a large grown-up family of sons and daughters, and her husband, Mr. Maurice Kelly, who is himself now in his 97th year.

Quite a gloom has been spread over the Ohincmutu- district at the sudden death, on Friday. morning, the 31st October, of Mr. Vialou, manager of Lake House Hotel. The deceased,, who was held in high esteem, had been going about attending to business the previous day as usual. He was the first Mayor of Hamilton, Waikato, and well known in Auckland, where his family now reside. He was. for many years proprietor 'of the Auckland Hotel, subsequently removing to Hamilton, Waikato, where-he carried on business. Mr. Vialou was Mayor of Hamilton for a term. He was an architect by profession. Latterly he has been ia delicate health, and apoplexy, it is expected, has been the cause of death. Mr. Vialciu will be remembered, by many of our old citizens, and his decease regretted.