OBITUARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18690, 22 April 1924, Page 9

OBITUARY.

MR. JOHN LOWDEN.'

EX-MAYOR OF MATAURA.

There has passed away in the person of Mr. John Lowden one who for about 40 years wa,s closely associated with the public life of Mataura. Mr. Lowden, who was 79 years of age, died yesterday at the residence of his son, the Rev. J. Lowden, minister of St. Enoch's Presbyterian Church, Morningside. Mr. Lowden, who was born in County Durham, England, was educated at Gateshead, and learned engineering at his father's ironworks at. Sunderland. In 1879 he and 'his brothers arrived at Port Chalmers in the ship Taranaki, bringing engineering material with them. He worked at Oamaru for a while, and then removed to Mataura, under engagement to erect machinery at the Mataura paper mills. He afterwards had charge of the pl,unt, during the time that :thos first printing paper was made. in 1883 Mr. Lowden began business on his own account as an engineer. His wide interest in Mataura affairs, was shown by the fact that there was not an institution in the town with which he was not at some time connected. After serving nine years as a commissioner on the town board, he became a member of the first borough council. Between 1903 and 1921 he held office as Mayor for 10 years. He was a member of the Southland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, and in 1918 represented the Gore and Mataura boroughs, and the Wyndham Town Board, on the Bluff Harbour Board. For 40 years Mr. Lowden was an elder of the Matama Presbyterian Church, and for about 1<; years acted as secretary of the Mataura school committee, of which he. was at one time chairman. Mr. Lowden retired from public life in June, 1921, and he and Mrs. Lowden, who is now in her 80th year, came to Auckland about 12 months ago-- .; a - Mr. Lowden leaves a widow and six children, namely, Mrs. R. N. Fulton, wife of Mr. Fulton, who was until April 1 chief electrician to the Auckland Tramway Department ; Mrs. E. Townshend, of Psevoa; the Rev. J. Lowden; and Messrs. S. J. Lowden, E. W. Lowden, of Petane, Hawke's Bay, and Mr. C. Lowden, of Mildura, Victoria. ..•;