OBITUARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9179, 8 October 1888, Page 9

OBITUARY.

The death of the late Mr. John Martyn, jun., of Broad Meadows, on the Bth September, though not unexpected by his more immediate friends, somewhat took the public by surprise, and in all parts of the district the intelligence (writes our Hamilton correspondent) was received with a very general feeling of regret and sympathy for his aged father, who has thus, within a comparatively short time, lost both his sons, in the prime of life. On Sept. 10, when the death of Mr. Martyn became known in Cambridge, the shops were half closed, and again on Sept. 11, in respect to his memory. On Sept. 11, as might have been expected, the funeral which book place at the little church at Tamahere was very largely attended by settlers from all parts of the district, who met to pay their last tribute of respect to one who, though taking little or no part in local politics, was always ready to assist in any good work or public movement which had for its object the beneiit of the Waikato, of which it may be truly said that deceased and his brother, Mr. William Martyn, were amongst its most enterprising and successful pioneer settlers. The funeral cortege, which reached the church at Tamahere about four p.m. was met by the Ven. Archdeacon Willis, who preceded the remains of the deceased into the church, where the introductory portion of the funeral service was read before proceeding to the grave, the Rev. Mr. Biggs assisting. The chief mourners were: Mr. John Martyn, sen., the father of deceased, himself one of Auckland's pioneer settlers, and his two sons-in-law, Mr. James Hume (of the Bank of New Zealand, Hamilton), and Mr. Joseph L. Wilson (of Auckland); also the members of the family of Mr. A. Main (of Hautapu), the deceased's father-in-law. The site on which the Tamahere Church stands, a portion of the Pencarrow estate, was the gift of the deceased some years ago, and, strange to say, his is its first grave, deceased having expressed a strong wish to be buried there. It will be seen from our obituary column that Mrs. Milne, wife of Mr. John Milne, the well-known accountant, has passed away, after a brief illness, from pneumonia. The deceased lady was much esteemed for her many personal virtues, and her death will be regretted by a large circle of acquaintances. The funeral took place on Sept. 13, the funeral cortege leaving her late residence, Holmhurst, Devonport, at one o'clock for the Devonport cemetery. Another old settler has passed away (says the Waikato Times) in the person of Mrs. Runciman, wife of Captain Runciman, of Marsh Meadows. The deceased lady has been ailing for some time, and died on September 12, at half-past nine p.m., at the age of 60 years. Mr. William Twentyman, undertaker, Thames, died on the 16th September from inllammation of the bowels. Deceased was an old resident, and was much respected. The funeral took place on the 18th September, and was largely attended. We regret to observe in our obituary column the announcement of the death of another oldresident, Mrs. Rebecca Wisotski, wife of Mr. R. Wisotski, and sister of Mr. P. A. Philips (Town Clerk). The deceased died suddenly on the loth September at her residence, Symonds-street. She arrived in the colony with her parents in 1853, subsequently residing in Chicago with her husband, when being burned out at the great fire they returned to this colony several years ago. Mrs. Wisotski had been in very delicate health for some years. The burial took place on the 16th September at the Jewish cemetery, Symonds-street, and was attended by a large number of friends and relatives. A person connected with the early his tory of New Zealand passed away on September 17—Isabel Margaret Nelson, who had been for 58 years in the service of the De Thierry family. The Baron de Thierry and his retainers landed at Hokianga in 1537, and deceased has followed the varying fortunes of the family since then with perfect constancy and devotion. Of the De Thierry family there now only remains Charles, the present Baron,and Mr. Richard De Thierry, his brother, at whose house deceased passed the latter years of her life. John Gebbie, of Gebbie's Valley, Canterbury, an old settler, died rather suddenly on September 19 of heart disease. He was born in Wellington in 1840, and was long a prominent member of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association. John Lanton, one of the earliest settlers, died at Rangiora on September 27, aged 79. He arrived here in 1851, and began farming at Rangiora 30 years ago. In our obituary column is recorded the death of Mr. J. J. Play ford, who was a well-known resident of Auckland, having lived in this city for about 27 years. He came to Sydney in 1838. Mr. Play ford was an old parishioner of St. Patrick's Cathedral, and in the early days he had charge of the church choir for some years. The Auckland friends of Mrs. von Bernewitz, wife of Mr. Max von Bernewitz, assayer at the Thames branch of the Bank of New Zealand, will regret to learn of the somewhat sudden demise of that lady, she having succumbed on the 29th September to a severe attack of inflammation of the lungs. She leaves a large circle of sorrowing friends. It will be seen from our obituary column that another old identity has passed away in the person of Mr, C. Westpfahl, bootmaker, who has been engaged in business in this city for over a quarter of a century. A short time ago he retired from business owing to ill-health, his complaint being paralysis. Deceased leaves a grown up family, most of whom reside here, bub one (a son) is in Sydney. Mr. Westpfahl was much respected by the circle in which he moved.