DEATH OF DR. POLLEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10135, 19 May 1896, Page 5

DEATH OF DR. POLLEN.

One of our earliosb pionoer settlers passed away yesterday morning at his residence. Arondale, namely the Hon. Dr. Daniel Pollen, M.L.C., at the ripe age of 82. Deceased had only been confined to bed for a few days, his complaint being diarrhoea. Nothing serious was apprehended, and it was not till Sunday that Dr. Koberton was called in to sea him. He was then in a weak condition and apparently rallying, bub yesterday morning ho again took a change for tho worse, and gradually sank into unconsciousness and finally doath. Docoasod loaves a widow and grownup family of four «ons and four daughters, one of the former being Mr. Hugh Pollen, Under-seorotary in the Colonial Secretary's department. The intermenb will take place at Avondale Cemetery to-morrow afternoon at three o'clock.

Dr. Pollon emigrated from the Mother country in 1830, and arrived at the Bay of Islands in 1840. Afterwards he came to Auckland and practised his profession, residing ab Parnoll. He also contributed frequently to the editorial columns of the New Zealander, and was also an accomplished controversialist in its correspondence columns, He was early Identified with the politics of the country, for when Colonel Wynyard became Superintendent in 1854, Dr. Pollen was appointed one of the members of the Executive Council. He was also subsequently Provincial Secretary to Superintendent Williamson, and took an aotive parb in provincial politics. During the Taranaki war of 1860 he was one of the champions of the Philo-Maori party, and advocated its principles in the columns of the New Zealander. He was a member of the second Fox Ministry, without portfolio, from July, 1861, to August, 1862, having a seat in the Upper House. On the removal of the seat of Government to Wellington, ho became Resident Government Agent, and held the position for some years, In June, 1868, he became a member of the second Stafford Administration, without portfolio, till the following year, when the Fox Ministry succeeded. In 1873, lie was reappointed to the Legislative Council, and in the same year he joined the Vogel Ministry as Colonial Secretary. In July, 1875, ho became Premier of the colony, his Administration being succeeded in the following year by the Voirel Ministry, in which he took his old office of Colonial Secretary, which he also held under the Atkinson Administration till Ootobor, 1877. Dr. Pollen, & quarter of a century ago, established brick works at Avondale, and went oub there to reside, Somo time ago he had an operation performed for cataract of the eye, and it was evident the infirmities of age were creeping upon him. He had been in the enjoyment of a Government pension up to bis death for his labours in the Civil Service.

The Hon. W. Gisborne, who was well acquainted with Dr. Pollen, thus speaks of him in his "New Zealand Rulers and Statesmen ":—

Dr. Pollen was endowed with remarkable talents. Ho had a shrewd knowledge of human nature, * faculty of quick and accurate perception, and generally the power of rapidly arriving at . just conclusions. He mostly looked at men and things on the humorous side, and treated them in an amusing and satirioal vein. As a politician he was pliable and versatile. Pew men could see better a question in its true light, and could give sounder political advice. As a skilful administrator in difficult times he was admirable; he was eminently what is called a safe man, and all he did wag characterised by caution, prudenoe, and discrimination. As a writer and speaker Dr. Pollen showed great cleverness; there was a crisp neatness of expression in what be wrote and said, and throughout he was polished, pungent, and persuasive.