Obituary.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1030, 27 November 1891, Page 36

Obituary.

JAMES FULTON. We regret exceedingly to announce the death of the Hon James Fulton, M.L.0., one of the most sterling men in New Zealand. Mr Fulton was a member of a very energetic, able, and cultured family, four membeis of which acquired considerable reputation in the Colony —these were General Fulton, the eldest; Robert Fulton, who was drowned in the London in the Bay of Biscay in 1566, on his way back to the Colony; Francis Fulton, an old Otago settler now settled in Napier; and James, whose sudden death is announced today. Mr Fulton began his colonial career in the early sixties, about the age of thirty, on the Otago goldfields. He was one of a company of six who tried their luck with the pick and shovel at Tuapeka soon after Gabriel's famous discovery. With him were associated his brother Robert; the two Messrs Borton, one of whom became widely known afterwards as a member of the firm of Borton and Mac Master, which took up and worked large runs in the Maniototo country, and in the Waitaki Valley, not many miles from Oamaru, on the Otago side of the river ; Mr Vm. Tescliemaker, who also took a prominent position subsequently in pastoral pursuits, and Captain Baldwin, now proprietor of this journal. The party did fairly well at Tuapeka, and afterwards did some steady work at Waitahuna when the second “tush” broke out. Leaving the goldfields, James Fulton settled down at Outram on a freehold he acquired close to the Taieri plain, and accepted the appointment of Resident Magistrate at that place, holding the position for many years. It was a wild time at first, renuiring a firm man to deal with the wandering population. The new Magistrate very soon made his mark, becoming justly celebrated for the high sense of justice and the great ability which distinguished all his work. A better Magistrate lias not been seen in all New Zealand. Soon after he settled at Outram he married into the Valpy family, famous in Otago in the early days for its hospitality and abundant means. Its head was, if we remember rightly, the son of Valpy of Latin grammar fame. We may add that one of the Bortons,_his partners in the mining venture, married _ into the same family about the same time. Living his quiet life at Outram, Mr Fulton kept out of the current of provincial and general politics, devoting himself to his farm and his magisterial work. He was a frequent and welcome figure in Dunedin society, respected widely as a man of honour, a consistent Christian, and an ardent temperance reformer. In 1879, Mr Cutten, who had succeeded Mr Donald Reid in the representation of the Taieri, retired, and Mr Fulton was elected in his place, and held the seat till 1890, when he retired, accepting an appointment to the Legislative Council. In politics he made many friends, and gained universal respect for his prohity, ability, industry, and earnestness. He was true as steel to his political friends, who thoroughly trusted him ; studiously fa’r to his opponents, who thought most highly of him ; he never spoke on a subject he did not understand ; his speeches were not numerous, but they were weighty. On the point of honour he was uncompromising. On the Temperance and education questions he was faithful to his views, and fought for them sturdily without any thought of party. The. greatest work of his Parliamentary life was perhaps the work he did on the Sweating Commission, of which he was the chairman. That work he took up with all his heart and soul, and his colleagues soon recognised the valuable qualities which had . made him so famous as a Magistrate. With the witnetses he was especially popular, as he deserved to be, for nothing could exceed his patient attention or hi 3 thoughtful care that the questions were properly understood, or his courtesy and gentleness to the women. When, on his retirement, he was appointed to the Upper House, it was universally felt that no better appointment could have been made. The regret that he has not been spared for a long career of usefulness in the Council will be equally general. The Colony appreciated his high character his disinterested services, his noble aims, his inflexible justice, and his blameless life. It was not an eventful career, but from first to last it was in two respects like the career of the illustrious soldier of old, it was the career of a man “ Sans peur et sans reproche.” We offer hi 3 widow and children our heartfelt sympathy in their heavy bereavement.

(PRESS association. ) Dunedin, November 24. The funeral of the lato Hon. James Fulton, M.L.C., took place at Outram today and was largely attended by the townspeople and Taieri farmers. The Hon. R. J. Seddon represented the Government and there were a number of members of both Houses present. The school children sang a hymn at the grave.

**■ john Mclennan. By the sudden death of Mr John McLen. nan, of Oroua Downs station, near Palmer, ston North, which occurred at the Occidental Hotel on Saturday afternoon, at tho age of 59 years, the district has lost one of its most widely known and highly respected residents. The deceased had been for the last two years in ailing health, but his condition had not boen such as to cause any any anxiety until a few days ago. He was being attended by Dr Martin, but he sank rapidly towards the last, and passed quietly away about four o’clock on Saturday afternoon, the cause of death being aneurism of the aorta. He was born at Rosshire, Scotland, and in 1865 went out to Queensland for the sake of his health. After staying there for about nine months he came out to Otago, and during the seven years he stayed in that part of the country acted as manager for JDr Webster’s station at Kakanui and the Meat Preserving Works near Oamara. Ho then changed his abode to the North Island, and about 13 years ago ho became manager to the Uon Robert Campbell’s Oroua Downs station. For over 12 years he continued to act in that capacity, earning during that time golden opinions from his employer ami from all with whom he same in contact. It was only about eight months ago that he became owner of the property which he had managed for so long a and with such great success. He leaves a widow and five children —one son and four daughters, one of the latter being the wife of Mr John Pascal, of Brooklands, Palmerston North. The deceased was one of the founders of the Longburn Freezing Works, besides which ho

had been a prominent and sucoessful agriculturist, and a successful exhibitor at sgricuP tural shows both in the North and t-'outh Island. In tho world of politics, also, he was well known, and although never obtaining a seat in the Lcgilatsure, his influence had frequently been exerted towards putting candidates at tho head of tho poll. His death will be widely regretted, depriving the district of one who was honoured by his employer, respected by those with whom ho was associated in the management of the estate, and respected and beloved by a large circle of relations and friends. The remains wore interred in the Presbyterian portion of the Cemetery on Monday afternoon. A large number of sympathising friends and sorrowing relatives followed the body of the deceased to its last resting place, the servioe at the graveside being Impressively, performed by the Rev J. Paterson, Presbyterian minister. T. W. LEWIS. # (PRESS ASSOCIATION.! Sydney, November 2?. Mr Thomas W. Lewis, Under-Secretary for Native Affairs in New Zealand, is suffering from a severe attack of inflammation of the lungs. His condition is reported to be precarious. Later. Mr T. W. Lewis is dead. November 24. The remains of the late Mr T. W. Lewis were buried yesterday, but to-day were exhumed and forwarded to Wellington.

[We regret to have to record the death of Mr Lewis, who so long held the position of Under-Secretary for Native Affairs. On Saturday telegrams of a very disquieting nature were received here about him ; he was represented as lying dangerously ill in Sydney from an attack of inflammation of the lungs. The worst was feared, and according to a telegram received on Sunday night, the worst has happened. Mr Lewis will be much missed by the Native Department, with which he was so long connected. In the palmy days of that Department, when Native difficulties were matters of real concern, he was of it When tho Department was shorn of its prestige and economy beoame necessary, his experience was found invaluable. Every part of the later history of the department, which is the history of the gradual development of the Native question, bears the impress of his knowledge and advice— Native land purchases, amnesties, disturb, ances by Te Kooti and others, all these things felt the benefit of his large experience and public spirit. Every Native Minibter of the last decade pledged to reform had to take his advice, found the work much more difficult than he had imagined, and discovered that without the aid of the able Under. Secretary he could do bat little. Few men possessed his knowledge of Native character and Native history, and none knew so many Maoris of note intimately. An energetic worker and very painstaking public servant, he will be greatly missed by the Native Department. It will not be easy to replace him. The fact deepens the general regret felt for his loss.]