SUDDEN DEATH OF A MANGAPAI SETTLER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9340, 17 April 1889, Page 5

SUDDEN DEATH OF A MANGAPAI SETTLER.

Our Mangapai correspondent writes : — "Death has again been gathering in his harvest. Last week it was my painful task to allude to the removal from amongst us, in the blossom of youth, a most interesting and greatly esteemed young person, and this week I have to record the sudden death, from heart disease, on the evening of the 12th inst., of one ripe in years, to whom more than a passing line is due, as many friends over a great part of New Zealand will testify with their sincere regret. I allude to the late Mr. George Murray, of Cross town, Mangapai, who, by a singular coincidence, remarked at dinner, 011 the day of his death, that, it was just 31 years that day since he landed in New Zealand. He has led a long and industrious life, and has done some service to the colony in his time, having brought a great variety of valuable stock to New Zealand when such description of stock was hardly known in the colony, and the importation would have been risked by few. We believe his were the first pure-bred Border Leicesters landed in Otago from the original breed as perfected by his father from 1807 on the several large farms they had on both sides of the Tweed. Ho also brought in the same vessel with him a breed of sheep dogs still much appreciated in Otago, a shorthorn cow and bull, poultry and jags, and by a succeeding ship an entire draught horse. After spending many years in the South, he sought the more genial climate of Auckland. He came here from Opotiki, where he had resided a short time, about seven years ago. Here he has been most industrious and energetic in transforming a partially wild place into a very neat homestead. His death was very unexpected and sudden. He had taken a cup of tea shortly after five o'clock along with his wife, two brothers, and sons. Mrs. Murray asked him to take another cup of tea, but he replied lie could not, and rose from the table going into his bedroom. As soon as Mrs. Murray could she followed him, and found him lying on the bed with his eyes partly closed, Sho gave the alarm to his brothers, who, by rubbing, &c., tried to restore consciousness. Medical aid was called in, but with no avail—life was extinct. On Sunday the Rev. Mr. Jones, of Waipu, held a service in the Presbyterian Church, making very feeling allusions to Mr. Murray's death. He also conducted a short and very. suitable service at Mi'. Murray's late residence before the funeral left, and also at the grave, which was listened to with solemn attention.