OBITUARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12263, 6 May 1903, Page 2 (Supplement)

OBITUARY.

THE HON. W. SWANSON.

It is with deep regret that we record tho death of the Hon. W. Swanson, member of the Legislative Council, which occurred on April 23 at his residence, City Road. Mr. Swanson had long passed his three scoro years and ten, but his death was altogether unexpected.' he having enjoyed excellent health and been taking his usual walks about the city, where his figuro was familiar to everybody. . The Hon. W. Swanson was one of Auckland's best-known and most trusted politicians. __ Born in Leitb. near Edinburgh, on May 30, 1819, he arrived in Auckland in 1884, and found employment in various lines, bub wages at that time were low in the Northern capital, and Mr. Swanson visited California in the hope of striking something better. Returning to this colony in 1852. Mr. j Swanson took up land at the place now boar- j ing his name, and engaged heartily in the timber industry. The first position of importance to which he was elected was that of representative of the West \\ ard on the City I Board, immediately on the formation of that body. _ The next step was to the Provincial Council, in which he represented first the Northern District of Auckland and then the City West; in 1071 he was elected without contest to a seat, for Newton in the General Assembly. Mr. Swanson continued a member of the Provincial Council until the abolition of those bodies in 1876. In the House of Representatives he sat continuously until 1884, when, for the first and only time, he was beaten. In May, 1885, he was offered a seat in the Upper House, as a fitting acknowledgment of past services as a legislator. This offer was made by the Stout-Vogel Government, and was accepted by Mr. Swanson on condition of its being understood that he was free to act as independently as had aiways been his principle. Ever since his appointment Mr. Swanson has been an active member—not greatly giving to talking, but exercising a salutary influence on the deliberations of the Council. As a citizen, Mr. Swanson was held in high esteem. Mr. Swanson leaves a family of five sons and two daughters to mourn their loss. The funeral took place on Monday, April 27, from his late residence, City Road, the place of interment being Wa'ikumete. The chief mourners were the sous and grandsons of the deceased gentleman, and amongst those present were the Hon. Jas. Carroll (Native Minister). His Worship the Mayor (Mr. Alfred Kidd), the Hon. J. A. Tole, the Hon. E. Mitchelson, Messrs. D, Goldic-, P. Darby, S. Hesketh. J. M. Shera, E. Gibbons, T. Morrin, W. R, Bloomfield, 0. Humphreys, J. Mays, John Marshall and P. Dignan. The coffin was covered with many beautiful wreaths sent by sympathising friends in Auckland and elsewhere.

THE HON. CAPTAIN MORRIS.

General regret was felt at the death of the Hon. Captain George Bentham Morris, which occurred on Thursday, April 16, at his residence at Onehunga. * Some years ago the deceased was stricken with partial paralysis, as the result of a blow from a cricket ball, but lie was still able to get about, and up till an accident, which occurred a few days before his death, he appeared to be in fairly good health. This accident occurred in his house, where he tripped and fell, and received a wound on the temple. He lost a great deal of blood, and although everything possible was done, the shock proved too severe for his strength, and hi passed away as stated. Contain Morris, who was sixty-three years of age, was a native of Tasmania. In his youngdays he went to England and joined the navy. He rose to the position of a captain of marines, and visited many parts of the world, but in 1871 he retired from the navy, and came to New Zealand. For several years he resided in the Waikatp and Bay of Plenty districts, removing to Onehunga about eight years ago. Deceased first entered public life as a member of the Auckland Provincial Council, about 1872, and some four years later he was elected a member of the House of Representatives for the Bay of Plenty district. At the general election m 1879 he was defeated, but he was again elected in 1882 and 1884. He held the position of a Minister of the Crown in the first Stout-Vogel Ministry, which was formed in August, 1884, and which held office for only about 12 days. In this short-lived Administration Captain Morris was allotted th* portfolios of Minister for Marine and Commissioner of Trade and Customs. Shortly after this he resigned his seat, and on May 15, 1885, he was called to the Legislative Council, of which he remained a member until his death. Deceased was twice married, and by his first wife he had four sons two of whom, Messrs. G. C. W. and P. B. Morris, are now residing in Auckland. ' He leaves a widow and a young son, about eight years of age. °

THE HON. DR. GRACE.

Dr. Grace, M.L.C., died at Wellington on April 19, after a long illness. Dr. Grace was appointed to the Legislative Council in March, 1870, by the Fox Government. In the Council Dr. Grace was an incisive and witty, and at times eloquent speaker. Bora in Clonmel, County Tipperary, Ireland, in 1837, he was educated at Stoneyhurst, England, and studied for the medical profession at Dublin, Paris, ' and Edinburgh. He took his degree as a licentiate of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 1859, and received his diploma as doctor of medicine at the University of Jena in 1858. In the following year he entered the army as staff assistant-surgeon. He served during the New Zealand war of 1860, under General Pratt in Taranaki, and General Cameron, in Waikato, Wanganui, and Tarauaki districts. In 1865 he was appointed principal medical officer of the New Zealand forces. He settled in Wel-

lington in 1866, and here he practised his profession for many years. For about 30 years he was a member of the New Zealand Board of the A.M.P. Society, and chairman for 10 years of that period. In 1866 Dr. Grace married Miss Johnston, eldest daughter of the late Hon. John Johnston, M.L.0., and sister of the Hon. W. W. Johnston. In view of Dr Grace's long and honourable connection with the British forces in the Maori war, the Minister for Defence ordered that his remains should be buried with military honours, but, in deference to the wishes of deceased's relatives, the proposal was abandoned. The funeral was very largely attended. Archbishop Redwood conducted the service. The Premier, the Chief Justice, several Ministers of the Crown, and a large body of public men were present. The cortege was one of the longest ever seen in Wellington.

MR, OLIVER MAYS. On« of Auckland's oldest and most respected colonists passed away on April 20, at the age of 69, in the person of Mr. Oliver Mays, of Devonport. Mr. Mays was born at Leicester, England, in 1835. and received his training as a teacher at the diocesan schools in his native town. He came to New Zealand in the year 1858. Mr. Mays commenced business as a general storekeeper at Devonport. He was appointed the first postmaster for that district, and held the office for 20 years. On retiring from business in 1383, Mr. Mays was appointed Immigration Officer and superintendent of quarantine for the port of Auckland, and carried out bis duties to the entire satisfaction of the General Government until

1 the system of assisted immigration ceased in i 1889. During his 69 years' residence in Devonport, Mr. Mays has been conspicuously and closely identified with nearly every movement for the advancement of that important suburb. In 1885 Mr. Mays was appointed treasurer of the Auckland Grammar School Trust, and his management of the school's endowments has been equal to the progress of the school itself, which now stands at the head of the secondary schools of the colony. When the Hospital and Charitable Institutions Act. came into operation, in 1886, Mr. Mays was elected to represent (he counties of Rodney and Waitematn, and the Borough of Devonport, on the Auckland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. He held the position for six years, and was chairman in his last year of office. Mr. Mays leaves a widow, four sons, and four daughters, a brother (Mr. James J&iys, of Devonport) and two sisters also surviving him. Two years ago his fourth son, Mr. John Peard Mays, a, member of the Auckland Battery Fifth New Zealand Contingent, was killed in South Africa. i

Mr. Duncan Maefarlane, stiperfdiary magistrate and warden in the Westland district, died early on May 3. Deceased was 77 years of age, and had been magistrate for. 27 ye%r3.,

The death is announced at New Plymouth on the 15th of April of *Mr. P. L. Webster, who arrived in the second ship In 1841. He was formerly engaged flour-milling, and . lately was agent of the New Zealand Ship- ! ping Company. He served in the Maori ' J war, gaining 'the New Zealand war medal.. , and was made captain of volunteers in 1861. i His age was 65. J During the last lew months a large num- ; ber of the real old identities of; this place have crossed over to the large majority. ; On. Wednesday, the 15th of April, an- ; other was added to the largely-increasing ! list, in. the person of Mrs. Agnes ArchiI bald, of Avondale. She came to Auck- } land in 1840, as a child, along with her . father, the late Mr. Hepburn, of Henderson, in the ship Westminster. At the i time of her death she was 64 years of j age, and was the wife of: Mr. James Archibald, brick manufacturers Avondale. She leaves behind her to mourn their loss, beside her husband, rive sons and three daughters, all grown up. The death occurred at Wellington on Wednesday, the 22nd of April, of Captain Babot, one of the best known shipmasters Jin New Zealand, and for many years marine superintendent for the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company. Captain Fitzhnrdmge Jones, ;. well-known estate agent, died suddenly at Duiiedin on April 22. Captain Patrick Gi'.roy, one of the oldest identities, and a resident of the Bluff for 55 years, died on April 21. Mr. P. S. Cassidy, whose death has occurred at Christ-church, was manager of tho New Zealand Times in 1896. Mr. Cassidy, who was a native of Donegal, started in life as a reporter on the New York World. He later on joined the staff of the New York City Press Association, and afterwards became city editor of the New York Mercury. He was one of those who organised the New York Press Club. At the Presbyterian cemetery, Symonds- j street, on April 28, amid every token of sin- ! cere regret, were interred the remains of Miss ; McLeod, who had been for many years mistress of the infants' department of the Ponsonby school. The school was closed at noon in order to enable the scholars to pay the last tribute of respect to their popular teacher. Another old identity has passed over to the majority in the person of Mrs. Robinson, relict of the late Captain Charles Robinson. The deceased lady was born in Kilmarnock, Scotland, came to the colony in the Duchess of Argyle 60 years ago, and has resided in Auckland ever since. For a considerable time she was an invalid. She died at Karangakake on March 30, aged 76. Although a sufferer for a long time her end was peaceful. The deceased has left three sons, four daughters, 27 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.