DEATH OF MR. JOHN ABBOTT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11552, 16 January 1901, Page 5

DEATH OF MR. JOHN ABBOTT.

We regret to announce the somewhat sudden death of Mr. John Abbott, at his summer residence, "Hurstmere," Lake Takapuna, in his 69th year. He had been suffering from bronchitis for the past three weeks, and was last at business on the last day of the old year, but the immediate cause of death was syncope, or failure of the heart's action. On Sunday he was sufficiently well to take a drive lialf-way to the Wade, and yesterday morning was up and dressed, and at breakfast , as usual. Yesterday forenoon Mr. C. E. Abbott, his son, who resides at Parnell, received a telephone message from his mother from Lake Takapuna, desiring him to come oyer to " Hustmere," and bring a doctor with him, as his father had had a spasm. As soon as possible he went over, taking Dr. Marsack with him, who had attended his father throughout his illness, arriving at aquartei to two o'clock. The doctor examined his patient thoroughly, who was fully dressed, lying on the bed, and found his pulse equable, and his temperature normal. Subsequently Dr. Marsack went into another room to speak to Mrs. Abbott, Mr. Abbott's son remaining with his father, and father and son spending the time in chatting upon various matters. Dr. Marsack and Mr. C. E. Abbott bade good-bye to Mr. Abbott, and had just got into the buggy to return to Auckland, when Mrs. Abbott, who had returned to the room where her husband was lying, noticed a change, and ran out and recalled them. They returned to the apartment, only to find that Mr. Abbott was dying, and he almost instantaneously expired from syncope. Dr. Marsack did everything to restore the heart's action, but in vain, all that could be done was to pronounce life extinct. Mr. Abbott had expressed the opinion that he would never be able ,to go back to active business. The deceased leaves a widow and six sons and five daughters. The two eldest sons of deceased are married. The eldest son has been for some considerable time in South Africa. Mr. 0. E. Abbott and Mr. Claude Abbott have been associated with their father iri his business as financial and mining agent. Mr. Lionel Abbott has just returned from England, where he has been studying engineering with Marshall and Sons, of Gainsborough and London. Mr. Reginald Abbott is one of the masters of St. John's College, and the youngest son is at school.

Mr. John Abbott was born at Colsterworth, neai Grantham, Lincolnshire, in 1832. He was educated at Halifax Place Academy, Nottingham. After leaving the Academy he joined the staff of the bank of Craddock and Middleton, Loughborough, Leicestershire, and remained there for seven years. After giving up that appointment he purchased the business of Mr. Thos. Banks; printer and stationer, and while in that business started and published the Loughborough News. Mr. Abbott came to New Zealand in 1864, in the ship Caduceus, with his wife and family, in order to enjoy a milder climate, as he suffered from bronchitis in England, and has done so here every winter. It was his intention to have gone South and taken a sheep run, but he had such a horror of the sea, and suffered so much from sea-sickness, that he elected to remain in Auckland. Shortly after arrival, he entered into partnership with Mr. F. L. Prime, under the style of Prime and Abbott, as grocers, but after six months they dissolved partnerships, and Mr. Abbott began buying large stocks of merchandise, and trading in a large way on his own account. Subsequently he entered into the business of financial and mining agent, which he has followed for over a quarter of a century. Mr. Abbott has taken an active part in public affairs, many of them of a philanthropic character. He was the originator and founder of the New Zealand Jubilee Institute for the Blind in 1890, and with which institution his name will be indelibly associated. Mr. Abbott was chairman and treasurer, at the time of his death, and has only been absent from two meetings throughout its career. It was only last week that the Committee of Management passed a vote of condolence with him in his sickness. He took an active interest/ in the welfare of the inmates of the institution. His death will be a serious loss to the institution, and the blind of the colony will lose one of their best friends. Mr. Abbott was treasurer of the Queensland and Hawke's Bay flood relief funds, and of the Queen's statue fund. In fact, there were few public movements in which he did not take a part, and with which his name was not associated. He took an interest in municipal and colonial affairs, and was a frequent contributor to the press on matters of local and general interest.