OBITUARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16225, 10 May 1916, Page 5

OBITUARY.

MR. W. A. GRAHAM. PROMINENT HAMILTON RESIDENT. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN COBBESPONDENT.] Hamilton, Tuesday. As old resident of Hamilton, Mr. William Australia Graham, is dead, aged 74. He was the third son of the late Mr. George Graham, and was born at AucklandHaving completed his education in England, he returned to New Zealand in 1854, to practice his profession of surveyor. Mr. Graham laid out Hamilton East, in 1865. With his father, Captain Steele, and Mr. W. L. C. Williams, he negotiated the surrender of William Thompson, the "king-maker," which resulted in Thompson coming from Waharoa, near Matamata, to Tamahere, to surrender to General Carey. This proved the end of the* Waikato War. Mr. Graham and his brother followed farming pursuits, and did much to assist settlement, negotiating the purchase of native land. He also took a keen interest in politics, and represented Waikato in the Provincial Council from 1873 till the abolition of the provinces, on November 1, 1876. Mr. Graham came to reside in Hamilton in 1882, and remained here until his death. During his term as Mayor—from 1884 to 1887— secured 120 unallotted acres, as a town endowment, from Sir Julius Vogel. Mr. Graham was enthusiastic in everything that affected the town, and it was largely due to his efforts that the Waikato Hospital was established. He was also keenly interested in the sugar-beet industry. He retained the unalloyed confidence of the Maoris, and his advice was often sought by them. "King" Mahuta conferred on him a Maori title signifying "man of equity; peacemaker; mediator." Mr. Graham was of a most kindly and sympathetic nature, and won the respect and esteem of all classes and all creeds. He married, in 1872, Miss Combes, daughter of Mr. Walter Combes, of the firm of Messrs. Combes and Daldy. Of a family of ten, nine survive him—six daughters and three sons. The married daughters are: Mrs- Buckleton, wife of Mr. H. Buckleton, manager of the Bank of New Zealand Auckland Mrs. W. H. and Mrs i 5- Hume, and Mrs. C. L. MacDiarmid, °1 milton; and Mrs. A. C. MacDiarmid, of Whangarei. Mr. Graham had been in failing health for some years, and was unable to take part in public affairs, being recently laid up. He passed away while asleep this morning. The funeral will be held to-morrow. MR A. B. STUBBING. The death of Mr., A. B. Stubbing, sur- , veyor, who was a well-known early resident of the Cambridge district, took place at Rotorua yesterday. The deceased was formerly on the staff of the late Major George Drummond Hay, as surveyor, at the time when Mr. James Macky was Government administrator of native "affairs at Cambridge. After some years he left for Te apo, and had since been surveying at Rotorua and Tauranga, and for the last I two or three years at Whakatane.