OBITUARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8355, 8 September 1890, Page 9

OBITUARY.

The Yory Rev. Father Mahoney, VicarGeneral of the Auckland diocese, died at his residence, Manukau Road, Parnoll, early on Wednesday morning, August 20, after a rather protracted illness, at tho age of 67 years. Threo years ago, when Father Mahoney was parish priest of Tauranga, he was appointed by Bishop Luck to the office of Vicar-General of Auckland. As, however, Father Mahoney wished to remain in Tauranga, ho was allowed to return there ; but eventually he found himself becoming unfitted for the work of a parish priest, and he came to Auckland. His health was in a feeble state ever since that time, and it was only on rare occasions that he could celebrate mass, and therefore the Rev. Father Hayes has beer, associated with him in the charge of the parish. Father Mahoney was walking about on Tuesday, and it was not imagined, therefore, that his death was so near. On Tuesday night, however, he rapidly sank and expired peacefully towards morning. Tho deceased priest has been for a very long time one of the Roman Catholic priesthood of Auckland s having arrived here 23 years ago. He was born in 1823 at Macrootn, County Cork. When a young man he joined the Franciscan Order, and received his theological training at the Franciscan College of St. Isidore, in Rome, from 1847 to 1851, and in the latter year was ordained in Rome by Cardinal Patrizi, Cardinal Vicar of His Holiness Pope Pius IX. He was ordained for the Irish province of the Franciscans, and at once commenced his active career in Ireland, working for six years in Killaloe, three years in Limerick, and two years in Gal way. To the Franciscan fathers had been entrusted the care of the holy places in the Holy Land, and Father Mahoney was appointed to a mission near that part of the world, in Egypt, where he remained for four years, and was during that time at Suez and Sutri. The trying climate of this region had a severe effect upon his frame. He was afterwards for a year at Frascati, > Italy, and then came to Auckland, in 1867,

where he lias ■ been in various places ever since. The funeral took place on August 22. A brief address was given by Bishop Luck, and after mass the absolutions were given at the catafalque by the Bishop, and the funeral then started for Onehunga. , The coffin was laden with flowers, sent by various members of the congregation and the friends of the deceased priest. Handsome floral crosses and wreaths had been sent by Mrs. D. G. MacDonnell, Mrs. O'Brien, and the Guard of Honour and Children of Mary. An attractive coronet of red and white flowers was forwarded by Mrs. Duffy. The funeral procession included about 20 carriages. The remains were interred at the cemetery adjoining the Church of the Assumption at Onehunga, Bishop Luck offering the prayers at the grave. One more of the familiar forms, a wellknown identity, has gone tho way of all flesh. Mr. Samuel Young, well known in Auckland and tho Thames, died at his residence, Mackelvie-stroet, on August 19, after a protracted illness, a consumption brought oil by severe attack of cold. Mr. Young was a driver for the firm of Cobb and Co., who ran tho line of coaches between Melbourne and Ballarat, and when the company started to run a line of coaches between the West Coast and Christchurch Mr. Young came to New Zealand, and was for a long time considered one of the most daring and skilful drivers on that difficult and dangerous road. Subsequently he came to the Thames, and in partnership with Mr. G. Moorhouse commenced business as a cab and coach proprietor, opening the first lino of 'buses at tho Thames. Retiring from this business after his marriage with Miss Lynch, he became proprietor of the Queen's Hotel, in Albertstreet, Grahamstown. He afterwards came to Auckland, and entered into business as licensee of the old Waverley Hotel, which then stood in the block now occupied by the Arcade buildings. On retiring from this, he took the Greyhound livery and bait stables, in Victoria-street East, but this business was not very successful, and he relinquished it to re-enter hotel life, taking over the Waipa Hotel, at Ngaruawahia. He was also an earnest and thorough Freemason. He was one of those who organised the Lodge of Light under the Irish Constitution of Freemasonry at the Thames, and was YV.M. of that lodge in 1875. Mr. Young 1 loaves a wife and young family to mourn their loss. His funeral left his late residence at half-past three p.m. on the 21st August, and brethren of all Masonic Con stitutions attended to pay the last tribute of respect to their deceased brother. We regret to record the death of Mr. Charles Spragg, an old colonist of nearly a quarter of a century's standing, who passed away on August 22, at his residence. View Avenue, Mount Roskill Road, at the ripe age of 71. The deceased was an energetic and useful man, especially in temperance work and social reform, but of late years his increasing infirmities have prevented him from taking any active part in social matters. He was highly esteemed and respected for his personal integrity and private worth. The funeral of deceased took place on tho 24th August, and was largely attended. A very pleasing feature was the attendance of the Newton Congregational Sunday-school children, with their teachers, who met the cortege at the top of Symonds-street, and walked in procession before the hearse. The chief mourners were three of deceased's sons, Messrs. Elijah, Charles, and Wesley Spragg, his stepson, Mr. Stanley Booker, and his sons-in-law, Messrs. Enoch and Ebenezer Wood. Mr Silas Spragg, another of deceased's sons', was unable to come up from Wellington to attend the funeral, being engaged at Parliament on the Hansard staff. The leading representatives of tho Good Templar Order, the Auckland Total Abstinence Society, the New Zealand Alliance, and the Gospel Temperance Mission were also present, as also a anumber of old colonists. Deceased irrived in Auckland with his family early in 1864, and has resided here ever since, except a bcief stay at Maungaturoto. Deceased leaves a widow who is his second wife, together with four sons and two daughters, all of Auckland, save Mr. Silas Sprang, who resides in Dunedin. In addition lie leaves 34 grandchildren. Our readers will learn with regret of the death of Mr. Thomas Wayth Gudgeon, formerly of Auckland. He died at Melbourne on the 24th inst., at the ripe ago of 74. Deceased was an old Now Zealand colonist. He was born in England, and for some years was in the English Civil service. He emigrated to New Zealand in 1850, and settled at Taranaki, but afterwards moved to Wanganui. In 1864, during the West Coast Campaign, he joined the colonial forces at Wanganui, being quartermaster of Wanganui Militia, and commissariat officer with rank of lieutenant. In 1867 he left Wanganui and went to the Thames goldtields, where ho lived for ten years, after which lie removed to Auckland, where he resided till within the last two or three years, when he went over to Melbourne to reside with ono of his sons, another son being Major Gudgeon, now a Judge of the Native Lands Court. Lieutenant Gudgeon in his declining days gave his attentiffln to collecting and publishing his papers on the war in New Zealand. He was the author of "Reminiscences of the War in New Zealand," "The Doings of the Maoris from 1820 to the Signing of the Treaty of Waiting! in 1840," "The Defenders of New Zealand." (

It is with much regret we have to announce the comparatively unexpected death of Captain Ebenezej- Goddard orris, at Tauranga on August 27. Captain Norris had been in exceedingly good health until a few days ago. Early in the beginning of the week he was seized with an attack of bronchitis, and at first the attack was regarded as comparatively trivial, bub on August 25 serious symptoms set in, and on August '27, to the surprise of everyone who knew him, Captain Norris, who was hale and hearty a day or two before, suddenly succumbed. Captain Norris was one of Tauranga's old identities, and was known far and wide. He was» engaged in the last Maori war, and worthily won his rank of captain by good service and going through the ordeal of hard knocks, j After the war ceased, Captain Norris settled permanently in Tauratiga, as a storekeeper, where ho has won an honourable name for fair, upright dealing. Captain Norris was married twice, his last wife having a young family living in Tauranga. By marriage Captain Norris is connected with many influential families, both in Auckland and at the Bay of Islands, where the nows of his sudden and untimely decease will be received with general regret. In connection with Captain Morris death, what renders it peculiarly sad is, that his younger brother, Captain William Norris, of the Tokerau, was drowned on the 24th of July last, just off Mercury Bay. Mrs. Norris had just got her matters wound up and arranged when the lamentable death of Captain E. G. Norris happened. An old and highly-esteemed resident departed this life early on Saturday morning, the 30th August, at the Thames, in the person of Mr. Henry Driver, ironmonger, at the age of 60 years. He arrived in Auckland with his family some 27 years ago, and after residing about three years at Parua Bay, Whangarei, he came to the Thames, where ho has resided ever since. He was a man of very high character, being thoroughly conscientious in all business matters, and ever since the Baptist connection was established at the Thames, he held an official position as deacon of the church up to the time of his death. He leaves a wife and eight children, besides a large circle of friends. It will be seen by our obituary column that a very old colonist has passed away in the person of Mr. George Scott, of Ponsonby. The venerable centenarian entered upon his 101 st year on the 12th of August, and had during his long and eventful life enjoyed good health. He remembered the stormy times of the Irish rebellion, the landing of the French on the coast of Ireland, and the battle of Waterloo. Mr. Scott came to New Zealand in 1545, settling at the Bay of Islands, and afterwards coming on to Auckland. Of late years he resided with his son Mr. Joseph Scott, of O'Neill-street, Ponaonby, and on August 29 began to ail, and took to his bed. He had no special complaint, but just died of sheer old age, passing away peacefully at ten p.m.' on September 2 in the presence of his son and some of his grandchildren. He leaves four sons and two daughters, and a host of grandchildren. We notice that Mr. Richard Watson Woon, formerly of Auckland, has died at Wanganui, at the comparatively early age of 56. He was second son of the Rev. W. Woon, an old Wesleyan missionary of Hokianga. I Captain Burr, an old Auckland shipi roaster, died at Suwarrow Island.

Our Waipu correspondent writes :—The members of our small community have been much saddened by the sudden announcement of the almost simultaneous 'death of two of its members, and by witnessing the mournful and unusual spectacle of two funeral processions sorrowfully traversing the road to Che cemetery on the same day. On Monday, the Ist inst., Mr. 1). Munro (who has for several years acted as country correspondent for this district to the Weekly News), was found dead at the front door of his residence in the Braigh Road. About half-an-hour previously the deceased had been observed standing at the door. The deceased was a widower, without family, and was 62 years old. An iuquest on the bt *y was held in the Braigh Scnoolhouse on the following day, Mr. H. McKenzie, J.P., acting as coroner. A jury being empanelled, and evidence taken, a verdict of " death from natural causes" was returned. The demise of the wife of Mr. J.G. Campbell, has elicited many expressions of sympathy on account of the painful circumstances under which it has occurred. The deceased lady had proceeded to Auckland for the purpose of being near skilful medical aid during her achouchement, but the result has unfortunately been fatal to mother and child. Mrs. Campbell was a woman in the prime of. life, and highly esteemed for her amiability and many estimable qualities, and leaves behind her four small children to mourn their loss. The body of the deceased lady was taken by the s.s. Wellington from Auckland for interment here, the mother and child being enclosed in the one collin. A well-known and much respected member of the community passed away on September 1, in the person of Mrs. Isabella Miller, wife of Mr. James Miller, of the hardware firm of Cruickshank, Miller and Co. Mrs. Miller was an old colonist, having arrived here in 1863. She leaves a grown-up family of three sons and three daughters, besides 14 grandchildren, the eldest son being Captain David Miller, of the Ponsonby Naval Artillery. Mrs. Miller has been an invalid for the last couple of years, but bore her sufferings with Christian patience. She was a staunch Presbyterian, and her old pastor, Rev. R. F. Macnicol, conducted the burial service at Waikomiti on September 4. A seaman named John Fullerton, who was admitted to the Invercargill Hospital in a delirious state, has died from inflammation of the brain. He had a fight two weeks ago, and complained of a pain in the head afterwards. The funeral of the late Miss Janet Robertson, sister of the Rev. T. F. Robertson, took place at Devonport on the 20th August. In addition to numerous other friends there were present:—Revs. A. Carrick, G. B. Monro, R. Sommerville, W. Gittos, R. F. Macnicol, and J. Hill. Our Masterbon correspondent writes : — regret to have to announce the death of Mrs. Case! berg, wife of the well-known storekeeper here. The deceased lady was highly respected by all classes of society.