OBITUARY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1162, 8 June 1894, Page 21

OBITUARY.

C. M. CROMBIE. 2*- (1837-189-i).

We much regret to have to announce the death of this valuable public officer, which took place at his residence, Ghuznee street, on Wednesday, June 0. The melancholy event was not unexpected as the illness of Mr Crombie was known, and its progress was watched with much anxiety, which in the last few days had become hopeless. Mr Crombio was born in Hobart, Tasmania, on the 28th July, 1837, his father being Mr Andrew Crombie, a barrister, practising in that town. He received his education at Hutchens' School, Hobart, and on leaving school became a clerk in a bank there. Shortly afterwards ho went to Victoria, and was for some time managing a bank at Talbot in that colony. When the goldfields broke out he left the bank and took to sharebroking, first in Talbot and afterwards in Ballarat. When the gold fever showed signs of subsidence he looked about him for some further means of subsistence, and decided to go in for journalism, although ho still continued his sharebroking operations. He was for some time connected with the literary staffs of the Courier and Star at Ballarat, and in his later years often looked back with great pleasure to his journalistic experiences. Meanwhile, when over 30 years of age, with an energy which distinguished him throughout his career, he had taken up the study of shorthand, in which he became so proficient that in 1871 he was offered and accepted a position on the New Zealand Hansard staff. For two years he only visited New Zealand when the sittings of Parliament required his attendance, and then he removed with his wife and family to New Zealand, and took up his permanent residence in this Colony. He was for some time connected with the literary staff of the Wellington Independent, afterwards the New Zealand Times, while still engaged on Hansard, and was also a contributor to tho Otago Daily Times. About 1877 he was appointed private secretary to the late Mr Ballance. Shortly afterwards he was appointed Deputy Land Tax Commissioner for the Wellington district ; when the Property Tax was introduced the post of Deputy Property Tax Commissioner for New Zealand was given to him, and when Mr Sperrey died about four years ago he was appointed to the vacant Commissionership. Later, when the Land and Income Tax was substituted for the Property Tax, he was appointed Commissioner of Taxes. In July, 18G0, he married Miss Sibley, at Talbot, Victoria, by whom ho has had 13 children, seven boys and six girls, all of whom are living. Tho eldest, Mr C. Crombie, is in tho Survey Department; another son, Henry, is in the South British office at Hong Kong; another, Frank, is AssistantSecretary to tho Colonial Mutual Society at Melbourne, and one of his daughters is a Sister of Mercy at the Convent, Hill street, Wellington. The other nine children are residing at home. On May 22nd last, he had to take to his bed, but it was the opinion of Dr Grace that he had been suffering from typhoid fever for some days previously. He made satisfactory progress towards recovery, and hopes were entertained that he would pull through, but on Sunday last he suffered a relapse and gradually sank, and died about 1.30 p.m. yesterday. He was attended throughout his illness by Dr Grace, and in its later stages by Dr Martin as well. These gentlemen did all that medical skill could do, but unfortunately without avail.

The Investment Board of the Government Insuranco Department, of which body Mi* Crombie was a member under the statute, were sitting in the Commissioner's office when the death of their colleague was notified. Tho Board, as a mark of respect for his memory, at once adjourned.

The career of the late Commissioner of Taxes was in some respects remarkable. It was a successful career, the success being duo to the leading elements of the man's character. These were indomitable industry, unwearying pitience, and the strictest integrity, combined with a high sonse of honour. He worked early and late, having realised early that whatever his hand found to do, that he must do with all his might. In this connection the fact that he became a first-rate shorthand writer at the age of 34, an age at which the acquisition of that difficult art is supposed to bo impossible, speaks volumes for his indomitable spirit, persistency, patience and sustained energy. These qualities distinguished his work in the Commissioner's office, in the doing of which he never spared himself in any way. Calm, steady perseverance brought him advancement. For that he was indebted to no friends, to no influence, to no accident, to no obtrusiveness on his part," for he was indeed the most modest of men. Patient merit was the secret of his success. It brought him to the front in journalism, it took him into the Public Service, and carried him to tho top of his department, his conscientious work in banking, in broking, and in journalism helping him considerably to acquire that mastery without which he could not have held his onerous and responsible position.

Domestic in his instincts, a model husband and father, upright in every relation of life, just and kindly, Mr Crombie was ono of the most lovable men in tho city. Close as was his attention to business, he found time to unbend for necessary recreation. He was a constant and untiring walker, as many can testify who have met him bowling cheerily over the hills. But his principal recreation was bowling. One of the most enthusiastic and skilful members of the Wellington Bowling Club he was, being always chosen to represent that institution as " skip " on great occasions. He it was who first won Captain Edwin's " Feather Badges/' with his team. The Newtown Club got them

away, and had in duo time to surrender them to the Thorndons. The latter in their turn succumbed to a Wellington team under Mr Crombie's skilful energetic guidance, the Club holding them now in consequence. Tho sad news of his death has thrown a gloom over the city, a largo circle of friends sympathises with his afflicted family, and the many thousands who did business with his wide-reaching department will feel a keen regret at the loss of the courteous, upright, considerate head who conducted it. VINCENT PYKE. Dunedin, June 4. Tho Hon Vincent Pyke, M.H.R. for Tuapeka, died at 9 o'clock this morning, aged G 7. Tho Executive of the Centr<°.l Railway League has passed a resolution expressive of its sense of Mr Pyke's patriotic services. Dunedin, June 0. Tho Premier has sent a telegram instructing a gentleman here to place a wreath on the grave of Mr Vincent Pyke as an emblem of respect from the members of tho Ministry.

The news conveyed in this telegram will be received with widespread regret. Mr Pyke was one of the most genial and popular of men. A native of Somersetshire, where he was born in 1827, he came to tho colonies in 1851, landing in South Australia, and soon afterward going to Victoria, where he worked as a miner at Castlemaine and Bendigo. He became a member in 1855 of tho Legislative Council, before the days of responsible government. Ho was returned as the representative for Castlemaine in tho Legislative Assembly, and in 1857 was appointed Emigration Agent in England, resigning that position in 1858. After 18 months as Police Magistrate and Warden at Sandhurst, he was again elected to Parliament, and on the fall of the O'Shanassy Ministry in 1859 accepted office under Mr Nicholson as Commissioner of Trade and Customs. In October, 18G0, he became Vice-president of the Board of Land and Works and Commissioner of Public Works, and for a few weeks also discharged the duties of Minister of Lands. In November following he resigned with his colleagues. Coming to New Zealand on a visit in 18G2, while still a member of Parliament, he was offered, in Dunedin, and accepted the position of head of the Goldfields Department under the Otago Provincial Government. This department he organised, and acted as its head until 18G7, when it was abolished. Mr Pyke then took the offices of Warden and Resident Magistrate for the Dunstan and Tuapeka District until 1873, when he was elected member of the House of Representatives for Wakatipu. He was the member for Dunstan from 1875 to 1890. At the last general election, he was returned for Tuapeka.

"Alas poor Yorick!" It is unnecessary to finish the quotation. Everyone will know that we are referring with keen regret to tho death of the most genial and capable man of the many genial and capable men whom New Zealand has known during the last forty years. The other day in writing of tho opening l of tho last completed section of tho Otago Central Railway we deplored the absence of Vincent Pyke from that interesting celebration. At the same time we expressed the hope that ho might got over tho trouble which kept him from a gathering of which he, of all men, understood the significance. It was clear, from his absence, that his state must have been almost desperate. We continued to hope against hope, however, until the Premier read his last telegram at Hyde. It breathed the indomitable spirit of the brave veteran. We need not quote it, for it must have struck all readers with the depths of its pathetic courage. It announced in fact that the veteran was dying. Our great regret is that the announcement has been borne out by the event. The veteran is dead. As a litterateur of excellent judgment, of clearest insight, and finest sense of proportion ho will be missed. As a magistrate of judicial power he has not left his superior behind him. As a journalist of ready resource, picturesque expression, and good judgment he had few equals in the country of his adoption. Few men had his gift of speech ; as a raconteur and wit he was absolutely unequalled ; no man with opportunities ever discerned and befriended struggling talent as he did; and none had the power of making and attaching friends as he had. Rash he was often, outspoken always, injudicious sometimes, but his eye was generally true, and his heart always. Generous to a fault, loyal to his friends, rigidly and inflexibly just on the bench of justice, unfortunate in all he undertook, he made a perfectly unique record in our history. In Victoria fiis strength took him to tho top of the political tree at a single bound. Arriving in New Zealand friendless, he rose at once to tho top of the mining department of Otago, and became one of the prominent figures in the general political field. But politics, after claiming his best energies, gave him nothing in return. Had he been a professional man, a lawyer for instance, there is no doubt that he would have accumulated means and made a great name. Being without that useful, nay indispensable aid to advancement, he found politics a great arena, but a small field of profit. The moral of his fitfully brilliant career is that no man of parts whose bent is not commercial can afford to be without a profession. Alas poor Yorick! He was without a profession; his parts impelled him towards greatness, out of the safe paths of mediocrity, and greatness was, for lack of power to hold through the stormy times which are common to all lives, denied him. He schemed and planned and worked, using his vast abilities without stint; but Fortune

1 was against him. Genial ho was, bright, | well informed, loyal to his friends; a : capable politician, a powerful journalist, ! and a glorious companion. Peace be to his 'ashes! MRS WILSON. The death of Mrs Wilson, wife of Mr George Wilson, of the firm of Aitken and Wilson, was referred to in sympathetic words by the Rev J. Paterson at the morning service at St. John's Presbyterian Church on Sunday. Mr Paterson said that' a gentle spirit has just gone, with whom many of them were wont to hold friendly converse. Her sufferings, borne with such mildness, such patience, such entire resignation to the Divine will, were now at an end. Her fine clear intelligence was now still more clear in the light of Clod. Faith and piety had made her life good and beautiful, and in the near approach of death enabled her to give up all —even her nearest and dearest to God —and now she had gone home to be with Him for evermore. n. a. Mcdonald. I We regret to record the death of Mr Neil A. McDonald, of Horowhenua. The deceased gentleman, who was only 30 years of age, has been ailing for some time, and a I short time since was ordered further north for a change of air, but on Wednesday he succumbed to his malady at Woodville. Mr John McDonald, his brother, went to Woodville to bring the body home, and on Saturday morning arrived at Levin, where a large party of relatives and friends were waiting to accompany the cortege to the private cemetery at Horowhenua. Mr McDonald was born at Horowhenua, and is one of the sons of the first settler in the district. He was unmarried. — Farmer. W. J. S. STRANGE-MURE. By the death of Mr William J. S. Strange-Mure, eldest son of Mr T. 11. Strange-Mure, of Ghuzneo street, the Wellington Rowing Club loses one of the foremost of its junior members. Deceased, who was about 20 years of age, fell a victim to diphtheria. Of a genial nature, and most energetic in the interest of the club, young Strange-Mure had become ono of the best-liked members in the shod. As an oarsman, he gave considerable promise, and was one of the crew which won the Club Fours competition towards the close of the season, after a series of hard races. Members of the club are invited to attend the funeral, which takes place to-morrow niorning. D. FRASER. We regret to have to announce that Mr Donald Eraser, who has resided in Feilding for a considerable number of years, died at his residence in Kimbolton road on Saturday afternoon. He leaves to mourn their loss a family of four sons, two of whom aro 1 in Canada, and two in this Colony, the ■ third son, James, being in business in Feilding ; four daughters, viz., Mrs J. Bishop, of Levin ; Mrs W. H. Mason, of Wellington; Mrs R. Whisker, of Feilding ; and Mrs W. Poad, of Levin. The late Mr Fraser was widely known and highly respected by all who knew him. — Feilding Star. MRS M. SMITH. Mrs Marmaduke Smith, of Marton, who was ill for many months, died on Monday night. She came to Wellington in November last for medical advice, but the doctors gave very little hope, and she lingered on since until death came. Mrs Smith, who was a daughter of Major Willoughby Brassey, of Wanganui, was everywhero esteemed for her gentle and amiable disposition. She was especially good to the sick and poor, and she will bo greatly missed in Marton. MR L. TALLANT. Mr L. Tallant, of died on the 6th at the Hospital, where he has been for some time past undergoing treatment for a complication of internal diseases. Mr Tallant was well known in the Hutt district, and his loss will be much regretted by a large circle of friends and acquaintances. DR PEARSON. London, Juno 1. The death is announced of Dr Pearson, secretary to the Victorian Agent-General. The illness of Dr Pearson, late Secretary to .the Victorian Agency-General, began with pneumonia. The Westminster Gazette publishes a glowing obituary notice, describing him as a valuable contributor. The Daily Chronicle describes Dr Pearson as a practical statesman and an original thinker, who rendered his generation important service.