OBITUARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8811, 26 February 1892, Page 1

OBITUARY.

Flags were on Feb. 5 flying half-mast on several business premises in token of respect to the memory of the late Mr. John Pearce, of the Alexandra Hotel, who was buried that day. Mr. John Pearce was an old resident, and was widely known and respected.

In our obituary column is notified the death of one of the oldest residents of Auckland, namely, Mrs. Rochfort. Deceased was a daughter of Mr. Alexander Shepherd,who was Colonial Treasurer from 1842 till responsible government was granted in 185 G. She was a sister of Lady Whitaker and Lady O'Korke. Many persons here will regret to hoar of the death of Mrs. S. C. Barraud, of Wellington, who succumbed to a heart complaint on tho Ist February at two p.m. Mrs. Barraud was a daughter of Mrs W. Atkins, of the North Shore, and sister of Mr. P. J. Holmden, and had a large circle of friends at Devonport and Auckland.

Uriah Holmes, a jockey to Mr. D. O'Brien, died in tho Christchurch Hospital on January 30 from typhoid. A settler who lived for many years at Whangarei, Dr. A. Clarke, died on Feb. 2. He had been ailing for some time past. Our Hunua correspondent writes : —lt is my painful duty to have to record the death of Mrs. Mathew Wallace, sen., one of Hunua's oldest settlers, having boon a resident for twenty-two years, and having pre vious to that resided in the Maori settlement of Otau, in Wairoa South, for seven years. Our Waipu correspondent writes : —lt is with feelings of regret that I have to announce the death of Mr. Murdoch McGregor, of Central Waipu, on Sunday morning, February 7, at half-past four o'clock. The deceased was a man ever ready to help those in need, and universally esteemed as a kind friend and a good neighbour. A telegram from Blenheim states that a man named Benjamin Wearmouth was found drowned in tho Wairau River on February 21 near Rockferry, about 15 miles from Blenheim. Deceased was returning on horseback to his homo at Onamatutu, from the Wairua Valley, where he had been working. He was a married man, 45 years of age, and leaves a wife and five children, most of whom are grown up. A young man named Georgo Soinerville, aged '27, was lost overboard from the steamer Mawhera on tho passage from Greymouth to Wellington. Soinerville was chief steward of the steamer Oreti, but had been confined to the Greymouth Hospital for some time, and was on his way to join his vessel again. He was seen on deck at six p.m. on Feb. 17 as tho vessel was entering tho heads, but a few minutes later he was missed, and no trace of him can be found. It is supposed he fell overboard. When the licensee of the Royal George Hotel, Christchurch, was about to light the gas in one of the rooms on the 17tli of February, an explosion took place, and the door and windows were blown out.. The licensee, J. O'Neill, who was standing in tho middle of the room, escaped without the slightest injury. The panel of the door was broken into chips, and the glass in the windows blown out for nearly twenty yards. The curtains were set alight, but the fire was quickly extinguished. Tho cause is supposed to have been a leak in the gasalier.

Robert Darling, settler, Coromandel, while yarding a bull on February 19, was severely gored, and died next day from his injuries.

Win. Ballantine, guard of tho Capo Foulwind train, had his head badly crushed between a truck and some timber on February '20. His ultimate recovery is looked for, although the lower part of the head was compressed into about four inches.

It will bo seen by our obituary column that another old colonist has passed away, in tho person of Mr. John 0. Seecombe, tho well-known brewer. Ho came to Auckland with his father (Mr. Richard Seccombo) in 1800, and soon afterwards established the Great Northern Brewery, " Kyber Pass, in the vicinity of the magnificent springs which thoy discovered there on sinking. The father ultimately retired, and the deceased carried on the business, aided by his sons, until failing health compelled him to relinquish active supervision of it. Deceased leaves a widow, and three sons and a daughter, to mourn their loss. His eldest son, Percy, died a month ago. Deceased was the second son of Mr. R. Seccombo, and was only 58 years of ago at. tho time of his death. Tho interment took place on February 17, and the funeral cortege left the North Shore Ferry teo for St. Mark's, Remuera, at half-past three p.m.

Our Port Albert correspondent writes On tho morning of tho 12th February, about eight o'clock, died ono of our oldest and most respected settlers, Mr. John Hecroft, sen., at the ripe ago of 77 years. Ho followed tho business of builder in London, in tho old country, but has been on the land since his arrival in New Zealand in ISG'2, coming out with the first of tho Albertland settlers. His orchard, though the largest, is one of tho oldest and best in the district.

A Ruapekapeka correspondent, writing on February 17, says:—"lt is with sincere regret that I have to record tho death of Mrs. Robert Morrow, the wife of an old and much-respected settler, which took place on Monday, tho Ist February. Tho funeral, which took plane on the following Wednesday at lvawakawa, was one of tho most numerously attended that has taken place in this district for years."

Another old Thames identity passed away on February 19, after a long and painful illness, in tlio person of Mr. J. G. Mall, librarian of tho Thames Public Library. Mr. Hall was born in 1820, of good family, being sixth son of the lato Captain W. H. Hall, of tho 4th King's Own, and grandson of tho lato Mr. Thomas Hall, of Whatton Manor, Notts. Another old colonist has just passed away, in tho person of Mr. J. A. Holdc, cabinetmaker, at tho ripe ago of 81, who leaves a grown up family. Ho has boon engaged in his business for over 30 years past. Deceased was a German by birth, but emigrated and settled in Auckland. A telegram from Dunedin states that Mr. John Marsh, proprietor of the Bridge Hotel, Cromwell, died suddenly of apoplexy on the 18th February. Tho deceased was father of Mr. W. J. Marsh, proprietor of tho Arrow Observer, and was for somo timo Mayor of Cromwell. Tho funeral of the lato Mr. William Campbell, of Pigeon Mountain, Pakuranga, who expired on February 18, took place on February 21, and was attended by a largo concourse of settlers residing in the immediate neighbourhood, augmented by a contingent of friends from town and a number of relatives from New Plymouth. The deceased had been long resident in the district— 33 years—and by dint of thrift and industry had become the possessor of ono of the most flourishing farms to be found in the vicinity of Auckland. At the grave Monsignor Macdonald referred to the many good qualities of the deceased, of tho high esteem in which ho was held for his obliging disposition, and of his readiness to assist in every good work. Mr. Campbell has left a widow and a grownup family of sons and daughters. On Feb. 17 Mrs. Ellen Patterson, wife of Mr. Robert Patterson, stonemason, Mount Roskill, died suddenly, it is believed from heart disease. Michael Fallon, licensee of the Imperial Hotel, Shortland, died somewhat suddenly on Feb. 10 after an illness of two or three days' duration. He leaves a wife and two children.

A telegram from Napier states that Mrs. DeLisle, wife of Dr. DeLisle, had an apoplectic seizure on Feb. 10, and died without) recovering consciousness. Old colonists will regreb to learn of tho death of Mrs. David Lundon at Wanganui. Tho deceased lady was highly esteemed by all who knew her for her kindly nature and many amiable qualities. Dr. S'reston, of Sumner, Christchurch, brother of tho Rev. G. H. Preston, incumbent of St. Mary's, Parnell, died on the 13th February. The death is announced ab Wellington of the wife of tho Hon. John Martin, aged 73.

J. W. Easson, senior, a partner of the firm of J. W. Easson and Co., auctioneers, Greymouth, died at) Kelson suddenly on February 17.