OBITUARY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1248, 30 January 1896, Page 34

OBITUARY.

BISHOP LUCK. Auckland, January 23. The Right Rev. John Edmund Luck, 0.C.8., Roman Catholic Bishop of Auckland, died this morning of heart disease. During the last ten daj r s Bishop Luek gradually became weaker, and though his medical attendants, Drs Melvellar and Darby, did all that medical skill could accomplish, it was without avail. He was also carefully nursed by Mrs Kehoe Dempsey. of the North Shore Convalescent Home. The Bishop was able to go about a little, but had to be carried up and down stairs hy the lay brothers. On Wednesday evening he Was brought downstairs to tea and shortly afterwards (half-past 6) he was seized with spasms of the heart. Doctors McKellar and Darby were telephoned for, and as they regarded the seizure as premonitory of the end Dr Darby remained all night. The Bishop passed a restless night, and slept little —a good deal of the time in a chair, owing to having a great difficulty in breathing and being unable to lie down. After 2 a.m. to-day he became a little easier, and slept at intervals until 6 o'clock. At that hour his private secretary, Father Pur ton, went to say mass at the Home for the Little Sisters o(' the Poor, when the Bishop said to him, " Kemembcr me in your prayers." A few minutes afterwards, while the Bishop was in the act of being removed to the bed, li3 was seized with fresh spasms of the heart, gave an exclamation of "' Oh !" a few gasps, placed his head forward on Dr Darby's shoulder, and almost instantly died. Those present at the time of death were Father Luck (the deceased Bishop's brother), Dr Darby, a lay brother (Brother Guido) and tho nurse.

Bishop Luck was conscious from the first seizure that he was dying, and was calm and collected, and perfectly resigned to his fate. Father Luck arrived on Saturday from Waikato, being apprised of the real state of affairs, that his brother's life was a mere matter of days. The hoisting of the flag half-mast high on the Bishop's palace soon proclaimed the sad tidings, and the flags were subsequently hoisted half-mast at tho city flagstaff in Albert Park, the Municipal buildings and the Fire Brigade bell-tower, Albert street. Many of tho tradespeople also put up their shutters as a mark of respect. The Convent bell tolled at intervals throughout the day. Telegrams of condolence Averc received from Archbishop Redwood and Bishop Grimes, and the clergy in the other dioceses. The bodv of the deceased Bishop has been taken to his private chapel, and will be removed to-morrow to St. Patrick's Cathedral, where it will lie in state. The funeral will take place on Saturday morning, and the interment will take place at tho Catholic Cemetery at Onehunga. About a week ago the Rev Father Lenihan was appointed administrator, in conjunction with the Very Rev Monsignor Paul, V.G. Auckland, January 24.

Telegrams of condolence on tho death of Bishop Luck have been sent by the Premier to Father Lenihan (Administrator) and Father Luck (the Bishop's brother). The editor of the New Zealand Tablet has also sent a message. The Dunedin branch of the Hibernian Society has telegraphed instructions that a wreath be placed on the coffin on their behalf.

The body of Bishop Luck lay in state this evening in St. Patrick's Cathedral, and a solemn nirgo was chanted. The Cathedral was crowded. Father Gillan pronounced an eloquent panegyric on the deceased Bishop. Bishop Luck by his will has left nothing personally to his successoi-s, but everythingfor the use of tho diocoso and the Church. Auckland, January 25.

Tho funeral procession of the late Bishop Luck left St. Patrick's Cathedral this afternoon for Onehunga. The procession of vehicles and the public on foot was a mile in length. The chief mourner was the Rev Father Luck. Among those present wore the Hon J. A. Tole, Hon W. Jennings, M.L.C., Messrs Crowther and Thompson, M.'sHR., and tho Mayor of Auckland, Mr J. J. Holland. Tho Anglican Primate, Bishop Gowie, was represented by his son. The A r en Archdeacon Dudley was present at the funeral service in the church at Onehunga. The whole of the Catholic clergy of the diocese were present in the procession, also the Hibernian Societies of Auckland, tiie Thames, Ctiromandel and Onehunga, the Christian Doctrine Society, and various literary societies and club."*, bhe Children of Mary and the Guard of Honour. The remains of the deceased Bishop were interred near the altar of tho lioman Catholic Church at Onehunga, the coffin being cmbedded in concrete. Bishop Grimes, of Christchurch, delivered an eloquent funeral oration extolling tho virtues of Bishop Luck. At a Solemn Requiem Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral this morning Bishop Grimes, of Christchurch, delivered an eloquent panegyric upon the deceased's excellent personal qualities ; and also his labours in the cause of the Church. !fc took his test from 2 Timothy iv., 7 and S, and said tho words gave the keynote of the late bishop's life. Auckland, January 27.

At St. Patrick's Cathedral last night, the Rev Fattier Madden, .speaking of the Right Rev Bishop Luck, said that the fruits of his labours for the past thirteen years had been devoted entirely to the diocese. The Cathedral had been freed from debt, and the remainder of his earthly belongings had now gone to the benefit of the diocese. Even the Bishop's own brother had received nothing but a chalice, and had even asked leave to take a photograph of deceased. There was not enough left to purchase a headstone for the grave of the Bishop, wdio in his last testament appealed to the clergy to put a plain simple cross over the grave to his memory. Tho Bishop had carried out the assurance he had given that he would leave the Cathedral free of debt, and this had been done out of his own private means at a cost of J 2900. On tho Presbytery, however, there was still a debt of .£I6OO, for Bishop Luck had thought it should bo the duty of the congregation to pay this. Father Madden also announced that Archbishop Redwood had aent an intimation that, owing to the death of Bishop Luck, the election which had recently taken place tor a coadjutor Binhop was now of no avail, and a

new election of a Bishop would have to be made.

Dtjnedin, January 25. Mass for the late Bishop Luck was offered at St. Joseph's Cathedral to-c"ay. Father Mackay, of Oamarva was the celebrant, and all the' clergy of the diocese were present, Prior Vaugkan assisting. Sympathetic references were made co the deceased prelate, and the " Dead March in Saul" was played by the organist. The Cathedral choir chanted a Gregorian Mass.

A Solemn Requiem Mass for the repose of the soul of Bishop Luck was celebrated bj r Archbishop Redwood at St. Joseph's Church, Buckle street, on Saturday morning. The Rev Father Power was Deacon, Father Golden Sub-deacon, and Father Kirk Master of Ceremonies. A strong choir of visiting priests under Father Aubrey sang the music, Father Faterson acting as organist. There was a large congregation, and all the priests of the archdiocese, who are now in retreat, were present. Reference was made in the Roman Catholic churches yesterday to the death of Bishop Luck, and to the good work which, in spite of ill-health, he accomplished hi the Auckland diocese. Bishop Luck was born in 1839, and entered the Benedictine Order in ISfiO. He was consecrated Bishop by Cardinal Manning in ISS2, in which year he was appointed to the See of Auckland, in succession to Archbishop Steins. The new Bishop was at the time of his appointment vice-president of St. Augustine's College, Ramsgate, Kent. Bishop Luck's father, when he became a widower, entered the same Order, and presented the fine residence in which he had lived at Ramsgate to his congregation for the purposes of a college. Bishop "Luck was a faithful and zealous prelate, and during his episcopate the Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. Patrick in Auckland was enlarged, the Marist Brothers were brought to that city, a home founded for the aged and needy under the direction of the Little Sisters of the Poor, and other works carried to a successful issue. About four years ago, while on a visit to Europe, he collected between =64000 and .£SOOO, and built the handsome and substantial Bishop's house in Ponsonby in place of the dilapidated building which had so long done duty. Bishop Grimes was a passenger by the Takapuna. which loft Wellington for Auckland on Thursday, and lie conducted the funeral service. In consequence of the retreat of the Catholic clergy in Wellington, Archbishop Redwood was unable to be present at the funeral. MRS CHATFIELD. We regret to record the death of Mrs Chatfield, wife of Mr W. C. Chatfield, the wellknown architect. The deceased lady, who had been ailing for some time, died on the 22nd. Mr Chatfield and his family will have widespread sympathy in their bereavement. G. FINDLAY. A well-known Dunedin timber merchant. Mr George Findlay, died on on the 10th. He had been in Dunedin for a long time. On arriving from the Old Country he lent a hand in establishing the firm of Findlay and Co. ; subsequently, he was a partner in the firm Findlay and Murdoch ; and on retiring he set up business on his own account in Cumberland street. MR RAMSON. Mr Ramson, a well-known and popular traveller for Messrs Sargood, Son and Ewen, has died at New Plymouth. He was in failing health for some months past. J. POOLE. After a long and distressing illness Mr Joseph Poole, the well-known bookmaker, died at Wanganui on January 22. The Herald says : L'ho deceased had a long and varied experience in New Zealand, where he had resided for over 30 years, during a portion of which he was on the West Coast goldfields of the South Island. He came to Wanganui many years ago and entered into partnership with Mr Frank Hill as totalisator proprietors, and no one was better known to the racing public on this coast than the genial " Joe," whose sympathy and generosity in all cases of distress were never withheld. Many will miss his unostentatious help and say with the immortal Bard " We could have better spared a better man." Mr Poole loaves a widow and one daughter to mourn their loss, and to them we offer our sincere condolence in their great bereavement. G. BOEDDINGHAUS. Our readers will learn with regret of the death of Mr Gerard Boeddinghaus, who for the past two years had charge of the Island Bay Hotel. The cause of death was the bursting of a blood-vessel, but deceased had for some time past been suffering from stagnation of the blood. Mr Boeddinghaus, who wis about GO years of age, was born in Holland, and educated in Germany. He was for some time manager of a slaughtering business at- Isinid, on the iJosphorus, and eventually came to the colonies —first to Australia, an 1 subsequently to New Zealand, to Otaki and afterwards to Hokitika, coming to Wellington in 1870. He conducted a tobacconist's .shop at the corner of Willis street for some time, and then took over the management of the Island Bay Hotel. His death will be deplored by a wide circle of friends he made while a resident, of this city. MRS J. J. CURTIS. The many friends of Mrs J. J. Curtis will regret to hear of her death, which occurred at her residence in May street oil Monday morning. Deceased, who was 51 years of age. was the daughter of the late Mr J. Milner, a.3id a native of Yorkshire. Her lovable nature endeared her to all who knew her, and her death will be widely deplored. She loaves a large family. J. W. SHAW. We also regret to announce the death of Mr J. W. Shaw, late Deputy-Registrar of Deeds and Assistant Land Registrar in Wellington, who died at his residence at Newtown on Monday. The deceased was the only son of the late Dr Robert Shaw, D.D., of Whittburn, Scotland. Mr Shaw arrived in the Colony about 18G0, and took a charge as minister in the Presbyterian Church, but

owing to his voice failing he was obliged to retire, and he entered the Civil Service about 1874. He leaves a wiie and sis children —four daughters and two sons. SIR F. LEIGHTON. The death is announced of Sir Frederick Leighton, the eminent English painter, aged 65 years. His death was caused by syncopo following upon a chill. In his last agony he murmured " My love, the Academy." He is to be buried at St James'. A. CAMERON, M.L.A. The death is announced cf Mr Angus Cameron, M.L.A. for Waverley (N.S.W.), who was carried off by heat apoplexy. W. NAHR. Mr William Nahr, the well-known brewer, has died at Westport from inflammation of the bowels. He was an old and respected resident, and well known throughout the Colony. He was a member of the Harbour Board, and was at various times a member of other local bodies.