OBITUARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9249, 31 December 1888, Page 9

OBITUARY.

The funeral of the Into Earl of Seafield took place at Oamaru on Thursday,, the 6th December, and was of a public: character. All the business places were closed, this being the usual weekly -holiday. The funeral procession was composed of the Masonic lodges, the various Volunteer corps, borough councillors, Druids, members of the Clan Grant (of which the deceased Earl was chief), and citizens, headed by the local bands, who played to the cemetery. The procession was the largest that has attended a funeral there, and there was also a great crowd in the cemetery. The deceased was buried in the Presbyterian portion of the burial ground, and the service was read by the Church of England clergyman. With reference to the death of the late Earl of Seafield, the Wellington Post says that there at one time appeared very little chance of his succession, and he emigrated to this colony, where he met with a good many ups and downs. Ho was, in fact, bailiff of the Resident Magistrate's Court at Oamaru, and in the actual exercise of the unpleasant duties of that office when he received news of his father's unexpected accession to the earldom, and his thereby becoming Viscount Reidhaven. Unfortunately, the title did not bring any large accession of wealth with it, as the Seafield estates, which are extensive, were tied up for a time ; but the Dowager-Countess allowed the head of the family, and his son in New Zealand, a moderate income. Viscount Reidhaven resigned his position in the public service, and determined to settle in Oamaru. He contested the representation of that district in Parliament soon after, but was defeated. Since his accession to tho Earldom he has talked of paying a visit to the old country, but alwavs with a determination of returning to Jsew Zealand as his permanent home. ! His son, eleven years of age, now succeeds to the title, and will in course of time, we believe, succeed to the large family estates. The Countess of Seafield has, we understand, several other children. The late Earl, even when plain Mr. Grant, was very popular with all who knew him.

One of the passengers v.'ho left Rarotonga for Auckland in the brigantine Ada C. Owen (which vessel arrived on Dec. 10) was Captain George Kelly, a resident for some years at that island. On the fourth day out from the island Captain Kelly burst a blood vessel, from the effects of which he died, and was buried at sea. The deceased was about CO years of age. He was a native of Now Bedford (U.S.A.), and for many years followed the whaling business, cruising in these waters in the early days. Ho was for some time in the employ of Messrs. Henderson and Macfarlane, being mate of the barque Novelty, with the late Captain Philip Jones, about 1863. He was afterwards master of a Sydney whaler, and then settled in the islands, where he married. Ho occasionally paid a visit to Auckland, the last being about twelve months since. A gloom has been cast over the districts of Otara and Papafcoeboe by the sudden death of Mr. S. Kimpton, which took place at his late residence 011 December 9. The deceased gentleman was not an old resident of the Otara district, but during his six years' residence there he established a reputation for sterling honesty and great perseverance, added to a genial disposition, which caused him to be held in universal esteem. Having been all his life a farmer, the early part of which was spent in the county of Cambridge, he was accopted as an authority on all matters pertaining to agriculture; and his information was always imparted in such a kindly manner as to make it especially acceptable. Mr. Kimpton took an active interest in all the local affairs of the district, though he never sought office in any local administration ; but no organisation for the advancement of church or school affairs was undertaken without the aid and co-operation of Mr. and Mrs. Kimpton. The deceased was a member of the Episcopalian Church, and his remains were followed to their last resting place it' the Otahuhu cemetery on the 11th Dccor-vier by a very large body of settlers, the chief mourners being the deceased's brother and his son. The funeral service was mo j impressively conducted by the Rev. F. Gould. Mr. Kimpton leaves a widow and three children to mourn their loss.

Our Tairua correspondent writes:—Another of New Zealand's t-.-v.-t.iest colonists has joined tho great majority. Mr. John Murray, of Boat Harb ,i. Tairua, who died on December 13, ag«.-l " f-\ was one of tho few survivors of the ' .rdy pioneers who fifty years ago contributed their part to the colonisation of this country. Mr. Murray landed ia New Zealand in 1537, remaining some time in Hokianga, whence, in or about 1840, ho went to Kaitaia, where he remained several years. Ho next removed to Mercury Bay, where he followed his trade of shipbuilder, turning out some fine fishing boat:;, for the natives. His last remove wan to Boat Harbour, Tairua, at which place ho has resided for 20 years, during which time he, almost unaided, built two fine cutters, viz., the Halfcaste, and To Rarawa, the latter of which is running still. The deceased was a man of indefatigable spirit, and if, instead of electing a secluded life, he had frequented the busy haunts of men, his name as a shipbuilder would have been better known. Being a keen observer of men and tilings, as well as a great reader, Mr. Murray's reminiscences of the early days, when a man's life often depended on the strength of his arm, were most interesting. Mr. Murray was a native of Scotland, and leaves a large family to mourn their loss. A 'liter of the deceased gentleman is married to Mr. S. Yates, of rai ngarenga, North Cape. Since writing the notice of the death of Mr. John Murray, I have just heard of his son David's demise, which occurred at eleven o'clock on December 14. David Murray was wellknown as a prospector, he having discovered the gold-bearing reef at Tl- Raro. He was about 45 years old. A farmer named Patrick Keogh died somewhat suddenly on Dec. 17, at Wnipipi. Deceased had been in indifferent health for some time past, and attended by Dr. Erson.

A very old and respected Auckland pioneer settler, Mr. Nicholas Simms, passed away on the loth December at his residence, Newton Road, at the . advanced -age of threescore and ten. Early in 1842 he emigrated to Sydney, where he was for six months in the drapery trade, and then came over to Auckland in one of , the trading schooners,, landing there in 1843. In company with his brother, Mr. James Simms, deceased commenced as a draper and merchant tailor in a shop in Shortlandstreet, on what is now part of the soft goods establishment of Messrs. Archibald Clark and Sons. = Being industrious capable business men, the two brothers soon acquired a competence, and after seven years partivership they separated, the deceased returning 'to his friends in County; Donegal, Ireland, where he married and settled down for 15 years. At ; the expiration of that period. Mr. Simms determined to revisit the colony, and this time elected to go to Dunedin, where he commenced business. He was not satisfied with business prospects there, and went farming at Oamaru, subsequently returning again to Auckland, where he resided till his death. Within the last few years he had acquired a good deal of property in the city, and he occupied his time in attending to it, and in being on the Mining Exchange, where- his fenial face was well known. Of late his ealth failed owing to the development of heart disease, and he died at the last somewhat suddenly. Dr. Philson was in medical attendance, but medical skill was unavailing. Deceased leaves behind & widow and young son, as well as a grown-up family of. three sons and two daughters by his first marriage. He was much esteemed and respected by those who enjoyed his friendship and acquaintance. Tire deceased, when in business in Auckland in the early days, issued debentures for , varying amounts down to threepence, and specimens of these have been deposited in the Auckland Museum as a relic of the early days, and a memorial of the difficulties of the pioneer settlers. The funeral left his late residence at half-past three o'clock on December 17 for the Symonds-street Cemetery. With regret we announce the sudden death on the 21st December, from heart disease, of Mr. Thomas Barnett. Mr. Barnett left his place of business in Queen-street for ■ his residence at Remuera by the half-past six tramcar, and alighted from the car at Newmarket. He was walking homeward across the railway bridge when no was seized with a severe pain, and as he could not proceed, he hailed the driver of a passing miljicart, who gave him a seat in the vehicle.: The jolting of the cart caused him so much pain that the driver at his request, pulled the horse into a walk, and also continued on the road in the direction of Mr. Barnett's house. Mr. Barnett never afterward spoke, and when the cart arrived opposite his house ! at half-past eight p.m., ho was found to be unconscious. He was carried into the house, and Dr.. Haines, who was summoned, attended, and declared that life was extinct. The deceased suffered from heart disease, which first attacked him about twelve months ago, and was informed by Dr. Haines that his complaint was serious. At business on December 21 ho had two severe attacks. Mr. Barnett, who was 54 years of age, and born at Stratford-on-Avon, came to the colony about twenty-two years ago from Leamington, near Birmingham. He went into trade as hotelkeeper at the Thames in partnership with his brother, and after some years he came to Auckland and commenced tho business of a pork-butcher, which he has since followed. He was twice married, and had four sons and five daughters. Whilst Mr. Barnett resided at the Thames he was well known in volunteer circles, and was captain of a crack company, which included in its ranks Mr. A. E. Devore (the present Mayor of Auckland) and Mr. J. Coate3, of the National Bank of New Zealand. The funeral of the late "Mr. Thomas Barnett took place on December 23, being largely attended. It is with regret that we ■ announce the death of Mr. Edward Harker, accountant of the Auckland Permanent Co-operative Building' Society, which took place on the 19th Dec. on board the steamer Oceana, while on tho voyage from Ceylon to Adelaide. The sad tidings were conveyed in a cablegram which Mr. George Harker re- : ceived from Miss Harker, who accompanied her brother on the trip. . A short time back the deceased develop©! symptoms of heart disease," and Dr. • Stock well, his medical attendant, recommended him to travel. He went to Australia, and from thence to Ceylon, from which island a letter was received from him, apparently written by him in the best of spirits. •It was on the return journey that his death took place, and there is reason to believe it must have been somewhat sudden, but no details have come to hand. Miss Harker returns to Auckland by the Tarawera. Mr. Edward Harker was unmarried, and in middle life, and resided in Grafton Road with his father, brother, and sister., For the past 20 years he has been connected with the Auckland Choral Society, and for a long, course of years the leading tenor soloist. He was much respected ana esteemed, by a large circle of friends and acquaintances, and his decease will be greatly regretted. With reference to the death of Captain j S. J. Williams (recently of H.M. Customs), j notified in our obituary column, a ; relative supplies us with the following i details : —Captain Williams had been to England to have an operation performed on his eyes. He returned to the colony last week in tho s.s. Coptic, and was very ill when she arrived at Wellington, and continued so when he transhipped to the s.s. Mararoa. His family in Auckland' were advised by wire to meet the steamer , with a doctor, but were not prepared to find that i Captain Williams had died so suddenly just as the vessel was approaching the wharf. The remains of the deceased gentleman were interred privately at the North Shore. We regret to announce the death- of Mr. Philip Lloyd Francis, of Penrose, who died of heart disease at a late hour on Christmas night, aged 62. Mr. Francis came from an old Norfolk family, being born atFoulsham vicarage. - When 21 years of age he emigrated to New Zealand to begin sheep farming in the South Island, where at differenttimes he owned large runs both in Otago and Canterbury. The Government at one time appointed him sheep inspector. His health failing, he removed in 1876 with his family to the more genial climate of, Auckland settled on Waiheke, where he again engaged in sheep farming. He was also appointed J.P. of that island. The symptoms of the malady to which he has now succumbed, becoming threatening, he had to renounce active life in 1883, when he retired to the North Shore, Auckland, and for the last four years to Penrose. His genial, open-hearted disposition made him a favourite wherever he went, and a wide circle of friends, especially amongst the old pioneers of New Zealand settlement, will be sorry to hear of his death. Mr. Francis was married since 1868, and leaves a widow and three children to mourn their loss.

In our obituary column will be found recorded the decease of a well-known citizen, Mr. Edwin Binney (brother of Mr. G. W. Binney, auctioneer, Fort-street. Ha died on the 3rd December at his residence, North Shore, after being laid aside from activa life for nearly two years. The deceased has passed away in middle life. He was well known in Southern commercial circles and in Australia.

A very sudden death occurred at Blenheim on Dec. 22. Mr. Alex. Livingstone, chief postmaster, had left his office shortly after five p.m., and had been out for a walk to a friend's house, and when returning got as far as the gate of his private residence, when he dropped down. Assistance was procured, and he was taken inside, but he died in twenty minutes. He had been chief postmaster there for about 2£ years. At one time he hold a commission in the French Army, and had seen active service in Algeria. He was a native of Paris, his father holding a high office in tho French Army. Deceased was one of the best musicians in tho colony, and was a prominent member of the Wairau Lodge of Freemasons. Ho had been in ill-health for a considerable time past, being treated for a complication of diseases. No inquest was deemed necessary. IPa.riha.pa,, a celebrated Maori chief, who has been ill for some time, has died at Stoney River. He is said to be over ninety, years of age. A tangi is to be held, and will be attended by natives from all parts of New Zealand. , ; , : Mr. Josiah White, traveller to Messrs. Cock and Co., Nelson, and well-known j throughout the colony, died on Decembers; aged 69. George Williams, the well-known lightweight jockey, died in the Wellington Hospital on the 14th December.' Death resulted from dropsy.

„ Orlando Gorringe, an old and respected settler, died suddenly at Feroridge, Wellington, on December 11.. '- u""Mf The Rev. Mr. Stannard, one of the oldest Wesley ministers in the colony, who has been superannuated now for a number-of years, died at Wanganui on December 8. Peter Cochrane, 3-4 years of age, formerly a canvassing ; agents died suddenly at Christchuroh on Dec. 10 in an apoplectic St.