OBITUARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10132, 15 May 1896, Page 1 (Supplement)

OBITUARY.

We regret to announce thab Mrs. A. S. Menteath expired in this city on the sth of May at the comparatively early age of 35. The deceased lady was born ab Barnbarroch, Scotland, and was the youngest daughter of Mr. Robt. Vans Agnew, of that

lace. She was a cousin of Lady Glasgow,

and also of Major Elliot, private secretary to His Excellency the Governor of New

Zealand. Miss Agnew was married in Australia about 12 years ago to Mr. Menteath, the well-known barrister of Wellington, and shortly after her marriage accompanied her husband to the West Coasb of the

South Island of this colony. Mr. Menteath was thereafter elected as member of the House of Representatives for Inangahua. Shortly alter this the deceased lady with her family changed her residence to Wellington, and in the election of 1887 Mr. Menteath was returned as member for one of the Wellington city constituencies. During her residence in Wellington Mrs. Menteath was distinguished for her many acts of unostentatious benevolence; and many poor persons in the Empire City will remember with gratitude her acts of kindness, which Were doubly acceptable from the. graceful manner in which they were rendered. The deceased lady had nob been in robust health for some months past, and with the hope of obtaining benefit from change of air and scene, she came to Auckland about a month ago; but, unhappily, on the 24th of April & change for the worse took place, as meningitis set in, from which she gradually sank. Mr. Menteath and her friends at Government House, with the aid ot Dr. Haines, did all that friendship and medical skill could accomplish to alleviate her sufferings. She leaves two little girls and a boy to share their father's grief in his irreparable loss, The remains of the deceased lady were taken to Wellington by the s.s. Mahinapua, on May 7, for interment in that city. Mr. Mentfeath and Major Elliot were passengers by the same vessel.

Mr. E. T. Gillon, the well-known journalist and editor of the Wellington Evening Post, died shortly before half-past four on Sunday afternoon, the 19th of April, after a long and painful illness. The deceased passed away quietly, in the presence l of his family. He leaves three sons and two daughters. • Mr. Gillon was born in Douglas, Isle of Man, in the year 1842. He arrived in New Zealand

with bis parents in 1851, and while quite a youth joined the Of;ago Witness in Dunedin as reporter. On the establishment of the Otago Daily Times he joined it) as chief reporter. In 1867 he went to Wellington as member of the first Hansard staff, and was subsequently appointed Clerk of Private Bills to the New Zealand Parliament. He resigned this office, after a brief tenure, and became connected with' the Wellington Evening Post. He was afterwards appointed manager of a news agency, started after cable communication between England and Australia was established, in 1872, but resigned in order to assume the editorship of the Post, In 1878 the Press .Association was formed, and Mr. Giilon was again appointed manager, a position Which- he filled with great success for six years; When be resigned in order to resume his former, position as editor of the Post, which he continued to fill up to the time of bis death. When the Institute of Journalists was formed in New Zealand Mr. Giilon was unanimously chosen as first chairman of the Council. He was also an enthusiastic Mason,'and held high office in Masonry. His wis one of the principal promoters of the' Grand Lodge of New Zealand. For some time past he had been suffering from an internal complaint, and recently underwent an operation in Sydney, the only result) of which was to definitely estabish ; the incurableness of his disease.' ; ' One of Auckland's very early settlers, in the person of Mrs. Nancy Ann Maxwell, wife of the late John Maxwell, died at her residence, Rocky Nook, Mount Roskill, on the 9th of May, at) the ripe old ; age of 79 years. ; Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell inked in New Zealand in the earl? fifties.

Our readers will learn with regret the news' 3' of the death of Mr, E. R. Watkins, French master of the' Auckland College and Grammar School, which took place early on the 18th of April. The deceased was the son of Colonel Watkins, of the Bombay district, the brother 'of Mr. Kenneth Watkins, artist, and was educated at Geneva, and afterwards at the University of Heidelberg. He came, to the colony in 1873, and joined the staff of the Grammar School in 1881. He married Miss Kemp, of the Bay of Islands, who ia thus left a widow with five children. He was a very popular ,■ master, and highly respected by the paab and present pupils. Very deep and sincere regret was felt by a wide circle of friends and acquaintances at the death of Mr. Frank Augustine Pemberton, M.A., late assistant master at Prince Albert College. The deceased gentleman, who was only' 28 years of age, was suffering from typhoid fever, and passed away about five o'clock on Saturday, April 18, "at the residence of Mr. Gilmour f Queen-street, Onehunga. Mr. Pemberton was born in England, but when still quite young Ivap taken by his father, Dr. Pemberton, to the Capa of Good Hope. While there Mr. Pemberton distinguished himself as a scholar, becoming an exhibitioner of the Cape of Good Hope University, and also senior Queen's scholar of the South African College. Dr. Pemberton and family came to Wellington about eleven years ago, but the Doctor only lived about four years. Mrs. Pemberton, with 'her family, then removed to Christchurch, and the deceased became an exhibitioner of Canterbury College; alsc Junior and Double Senior Scholar. Label on he took the M.A. degree with double honours of the University of New Zealand, and was classed A 4 under the Education Department; For some time he taught at Canterbury College, bub more recently he became second master at the Prince Albert College of this city, and was known as an able and promising teacher. ~ An old and respected resident of Pictoe, Mr. John France, died last week, aged 65 years. He was a native of Canada, ana came to the colony when a young man. It is with much regret we have to announce the somewhat sudden death of Mr. W. R. Wills, aged 59, a well-known and respected resident of Otahuhu. Mr. Wills was a man who had made his mark in the literary world. His books of poems, " A Bunch of Wild Pansies," " God's Splendid Son,' 1 and other songs and ballads show much genius and poetical power. In the Musical Textbooks just adopted by the Auckland Education Board for the public schools, Mr. Irenes has set to music many of Mr. Wills' patriotic songs. The funeral took place at the Anglican Cemetery, Otahuhu, oe Sunday, the 10th May. There was i large concourse of friends and sy® pathisers, including a number of Masonic brethren, especially of the lodge to which he belonged, and in which he had occupied the position of tyler for many years. Mr. Jonathan Bidmead, another of Wellington's pioneer settlers, passed away on May lat the ripo age of 85 years. The deceased left England, in the ship London, on Ist January, 1842, and arrived in Wel- - lington on Ist May, with his wife and child. He leaves three sons and two daughters, 32 grandchildren, and 30 great-grandchildren. Mr. Bidmead was widely respected for his straightforward and upright character. The death is announced of Mr. Joseph 1 Rowe Gard, of Rougemont, Picton, one o{ 1 the oldest and most esteemed of the resi< 1 dents of that town, . The late Mr. Gard ; was a member of an old family of the same ■ name resident at Exeter, Devonshire, and ' came to the colony in the same ship as tfc j ' late Governor Browne in 1855. He leave(

a widow and four grown-up daughters, on« of whom is married to Mr. J. T. Mowat, who was recently appointed Chief Inspectoi of Stock at the Falkland Islands, where ha and his wife and family are now restding f and another to Mr. J. Conolly, solicitor, ot Blenheim. The unexpected demise ,of Mr, Firfcl Wrigiey, an old resident at' Taiiranga d twenty-three years r came as av great surprise on Monday' morning, the 11th of May. The deceased arrived in ths colony at the age of 18 years. He leaves a widow and seven children and a large circif of friends to mourn his loss. Another old identity, in the person of Mr, Alexander Thomas Harris, passed away an the 12th of May.* He arrived in bhia jolony 56 years ago with Governor Hobson, and was for many years manager of ths Kawau copper mines. He continued thert n charge of the island after the mines were iloaed, and after its purchase by Sir Georgft 3rey be was retained by him as overseer. Deceased was married in old St). Paul't' ]hurch 47 years ago. He leaves a widow, ihree sons, four daughters, and 34 grand< children to mourn their loss. Mr, W. E. Fairholme, a Christchurcb irfcisfc, died suddenly while conversing with >wo gentlemen in his studio on May 11. Mrs. Ellen Lloyd, a very old Hawke'B Say identity, died on May 1. The roll of old colonists is a rapidly :hinning one, and another of the Duchess )f Argyle passengers has just) passed away n the person ef Mr, Peter McCarthy, a& he age of 86. Mr. McCarthy was a shipwright by profession. Having acquired a competence Mr. McCarthy has lived in retirement in Auckland for many years. 3e is survived by his widow, who is still rery hale in spite of her 77 years. Our Thames correspondent writes" An ild colonist, in the person of Mrs. Isabella McPherson, passed over to the great najoriby on Friday, the Ist of May, at hee !On-in-iaw's (Mr. W. H. Lucas) residence, Beach Road. The deceased, who was in ler 84th year, arrived at Auckland with ier husband, in the Duchess of Argyle, n 1852, and took up her residence in this siby shortly afterwards, where she remained intil about five years ago, when she came :o the Thames. Our Kaukapakapa correspondent writes! -Robert Barlow, the half-caste who ares ted and brought from the King Country Winiata, the murderer, many years ago, lied at his residence, Kakanui, Kaipara, )o the 23rd April, He has lived at Kakanui 'or a number of years as an industrious 'armer. He leaves two wives and four or ive children to mourn their loss. A correspondent writes from Opotikil •egret to record the death of. Mr. Edward Perry Dumergue, clerk to the Whakatane bounty Council. He will be much missed >y all classes in this district,: where he has ong been prominent in public affairs, and n every good work. Born in England, a, on of Captain Edward Dumergue, R.N., te was forced to leave the old country by 11-health, and we ar&. indebted to this lauae for his presence with us on this coast or the last 19 years, From the first his ictivities were many and various. In all >ttsinesfl affairs, as in private life, he was nuch esteemed, and universal sympathy is elk for his widow and two. children in their lereavevement.