OBITUARY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1249, 6 February 1896, Page 19

OBITUARY.

W. M. MOWATT. Mr William Meffan Mowatt, Chief Inspector of Machinery, died very suddenly on Friday, January 31st. It had been known for years previously that his heart was affected, but the disease did not interfere with the regular performance of his duties. On Friday last ho was apparently in good health and spirits, and was engaged at his office in the Queen's Chambers up till 5 o'clock, in the evening a children's party was hold at his residence in Thompson street, and Mr Mowatt with hi 3 customary geniality entered warmly into the romps and amusement of the little people. He retired about half-past 11, and had just taken up a book to read when Mrs Mowatt heard a slight groan, and looking round found her husband with face downward clutching at the bedclothes. Before any assistance could be rendered he was dead.

The deceased gentleman was born in Forfarshire, Scotland, in August, 1852, so that he was only in his 44th year at the time of his death. He learnt his trade at Barrow-in-Furness, and worked at it there, as well as at Jarrow, Belfast and Glasgow. In 1872 he came out to New Zealand, and began work at the Otago Foundry, then owned by Messrs Cony era- and Davidson, whose then foreman was Mr H. A. McGregor, now Inspector of Machinery at Wellington. Mr McGregor soon afterwards left the foundry to take up the position of inspector of machinery, and Mr Mowatt was promoted to the vacant foremanship. He remained for 18 months longer, and then entered the service of the Union Steamship Company, in which he was speedily advanced to the rank of chief engineer. He was sent to Scotland to supervise the construction of the a.* 1 . Wairarapa, and returned in her as chief engineer. In ISB4 he left the sea to take charge of the Belfast Freezing Works near Christchurch, and in December, 1887, he entered the service of the Government as inspector of machinery and engineer-surveyor at Wellington,in succession to Mr Nancarrow, who was retiring. In the same month he waa stricken down by typhoid fever, and was not able to resume his professional duties until the end of March, 1888. From that time forward up till his death he was never incapacitated by illness. In July, 1892, he waa promoted to the position of chief inspector of machinery, principal engineer-surveyor of steamers and examiner of engineers. He was exceedingly popular with the members of his own profession, and was well liked by all who were brought into contact with him. He was a Freemason, but at the time of his death was not attached to any lodge. In athletic sports he took a keen interest, and he was a member of the Wellington Bowling Club. On Saturday the flags of the shipping, of the steamship offices and of the Wellington Bowling. Chib-wers-fiyißrg- at half-mast out of respect to his memory. In 1831 Mr Mowatt married a daughter of Mr George Potter, of Nelson, and he is survived by his wife and seven children —four son 3 and three daughters—the eldest child being 14 years of age and the youngest 2J-. The life of the deceased was not insured, tho heart disease which was the cause of death inducing hia proposal for insurances to be declined.

As a ourious coincidence, ifc may be mentioned that Mr Alexander Main (secretary of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers), who was drowned in the harbour on Wednesday week, was a fellow-townsman, schoolmate and fellow-apprentice of the late Mi Mo watt.

The mortal remains of Mr Mo watt were interred in the Karori Cemetery on Sunday afternoon, the high esteem in whi<-h ho was held being evidenced by tho very large concourse of mourners who attended to pay their last respects. Numerous wieatbs and floral tributes were sent to be placed on the coffin, including one from the Union Steamship Company, and another from Mrs Seddon. Amongst the mourners were the Mayor, Messrs W. Ferguson (secretary and engineer of the Wellington Harbour Board), W. T. Glasgow (Under-Secretary of the Marine Departmant), W. Cable (Cable and Co.), S. Luke,C. M. Luke and J. Luke (Luke and Son), Lodder (chief engineer Gear Meat Company), Oroll (chief engineer Wellington Meat Company), Gannaway, Scott (Westport Coal Company), W. A. Kennedy (local manager Union Steam Ship Company), J. Halliday (chief clerk, Union Steam Ship Company), J. Daniel (foreman shipwright, Union Steam Ship Com-

pany), Captain Bend all (Underwriters' Association) and representatives of all the local engineering establishments and engineering departments of tho shipping in port. The sons of the deceased and Mr H. A. McGregor

(Inspector of Machinery) were chief mourners. Messrs Carman, McGregor, G. Seager and J. Moyes acted as pall-bearers. The service-? in the house and at the grave were conducted by the Bev J. Paterson. A touching manifestation of the affection entertained for Mr Mowatt by tho who had either worked under him or been- befriended by him was afforded by the numbel~ of old sailors and firemen who came to view tho body, many of tho in crying aloud. Ono old fireman, an utter stranger to Mrs Mowatt, went so far as to embrace and kiss the dead man time after time and wept bitterly. SIR J. BARNEY. Sir Joseph Barnby, the well-known musician, died in London last week. The deceased was for about 20 years conductor of the Royal Choral Society. He was the author of many anthems and hymns, beside secular works. He was knighted in 1693. CAPTAIN GREIG. Captain James Brown Greig, well known in the early days at Invercargill as harbourmaster and latterly as Government .Resident at Stewart Island and master of the Government schooner Kekcno, died last week. HON. H. C. CHILDERS. Tho Right Hon. H. C. Childers, the wellknown statesman, who at various periods held Cabinet rank, and was Chancellor of the Exchequer of Great Britain from 1882 till 1885, is dead ; aged G 9. COLONEL DRURY. Colonel E. R. Drury, C.M.G., manager of the Queensland National Bank, is dead. WI MAIHI TE RAKIKAHEKE. Wi Maihi Te itakikaheke, generally known as. IMajor Marsh, 6t 1/nG Arawa, has died at Rotorua. "~ ■_ ._ LORD LEIGHTON'S FUNERAL. The Premier and Sir John Millais were among the pallbearers at Lord Leighton'g funeral. The Queen, the Kaiser, the King of

the Belgians, and the Prince of Wales were represented. There wa3 a great procession from the Royal Academy to St. Paul's. The Archbishop of York, the Most Rev Dr Maclagan, officiated at the funeral service.