OBITUARY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1260, 23 April 1896, Page 20

OBITUARY.

E. T. (MELON. ISI2-18GG. It is our painful duty this week to announce the death of our rou/we, who was released on Sunday (April 20) from the painful sufferings he has endured so long with a heroic fortitude which has compelled general admiration. The exhausting illness, which was the cause of these sufferings, began somo six years ago. If nearly carried him off in the winter of IH9D, when lie had to give up work of all kinds. But after a few weeks lie was back in his editorial chair in the familiar editorial room ol the Evening 80-1, wielding his ready and trenchant pan an 1 discharging his multifarious duties with imdiminislied energy. The enemy, however, remained with him, and from time to time asserted mastery. He fought bravely, with silent tenacity, allowed no sign of weakness in his work, permitted himself no relaxation. A furlough of a few weeks was tried two or three times, with results which promised well ; but at last ho had to give up his work. The crisis came during last summer, when lie went to Sydney to get medical advice. Then the melancholy truth became evident. He was past human aid, and lie returned to Wellington to (lie. Ilis frien Is hoped even then, for a time, much from his si rung constifulion, and tried to hope that he might preside over many issues of the journal he had served so faithfully from tho new building now nearly complete. It was a hope that he himself shared, with a fouling that grew fainter from day to day. Tho disappointment deepens the tragedy of his death.

Mr Gillon, from the first, showed a natural fitness for the work of journalism. Someone lias said that you may educate it man in two universities, and fill him with every conceivable knowledge, but that if ho be not of tho stuff of which journalists are made, all that training and preparation will not avail him. Air Gillon was of the right stuff, and without going to universities or making any preparation became a journalist quickly, and was not long rising to the highest position. Born in Douglas, Isle of Alan, in 1812, ho came to the Colony in 1851 with his parents, who settled in Otago, in tho Waihola district. Early in his teens he saw much of the work of station life, stock-riding, cattle-driving, mustering', and all rough work. But the end of the fifties found him established in journalism, reporting the proceedings of the Provincial Council for the Otago Witness. In 1881 he was sent specially to the historic Gabriel’s, and acquired his first experience of outside reporting in tho rough arid tumble of that wildly exciting goldfield life. When the Otago Daily Times was established by Air Vogel, Air Gillon was chief reporter and theatrical critic, and lost no opportunity of qualifying himself for tho higher walks. That, by the way, was a course he, in his later days, always urged his younger con/rera* of the profession to follow, and he frequently lamented that so few do it. Illness stopped libs promising journalistic

career for a time, and drove him into the Public Service. But after two or three years ho went back to journalism. In 1897, when Hansard was begun, he was one of the staff, and his name yet lingers in tradition as a smart reporter of those days. He had a postin one of the Parliamentary offices as well, and during his term of office he was much in communication with Ministers and members cf Parliament. He did much work with Air .Stafford and others who could he named—work which gave him a wide acquaintance with public affairs. As to the Hansard work and the Parliamentary reporting which he afterwards did with great industry and power, the result was much appreciated in every newspaper office in New Zealand, and Air Gillon established a reputation for a knowledge of Parliamentary history, forms and precedents which has never been surpassed. As a leader writer, he got early into notice, ami was retained by many journals. As special correspondent he served some of the first papers in the Colony; he was the manager of the first nows agency ever established in the Colony, and lie was Hie organiser of the present Press Association, which first saw the light in 1878. and was its first manager till 1881, being remarkable during the six years as an indefatigable Parliamentary precis reporter.

Of late years he lias been best known as the editor of the Evening Post, at the head of which journal he has shown unwearied industry, great knowledge of affairs, readiness of resource, a strong grasp of principles, a retentive memory, and considerable command of trenchant language. In all tilings lie made his paper the first consideration, and lie was always a strong, determined, vigilant pressman. Ha was unanimously elected first; President of the Journalists’ Institute, and held the position for some years, till failing health compelled his retirement. In his life lie managed, like many busy men, fo play many parts. He was one oi the leading Freemasons of the Colony for many yeais: lie served a term in the Provincial Cornell of Wellington, and several in (he Municipal Council, and on various school committees: lie was, many years ago, lieutenant in the D Battery when Mr Buckley (now Mir Patrick) was captain, and lie was the representative in New Zealand of the Dramatic Authors’ Society and of the firm of .Messrs Williamson, Garner and Mnsgrove. Mr Gillon, who was a widower for several years, leaves two daughters and three sons to mourn his loss. We offer them our heartfelt sympathy: wo condole with tho proprietors of our contemporary who are feeling the breaking of a connection which has lasted for years, and we bid farewell to our con. fccrc with sincere regret. TIIIC FUNERAL. At the funeral on Tuesday, the cortege, left the Empire Hotel for the Church of England cemetery, Bolton street, shortly before 10 o’clock. The funeral was a large and representative one, and showed the respect in which the deceased was held lay all classes. Immediately in front of the hearse walked about 50 of the.sixth standard boys of the Terrace school and some Post runners, each of whom carried a wreath out of those sent b.y private persons and public bodies. The chief mourners were Messrs Ernest and Ormsby Gillon and Aiasler Maurice Gillon, sons of the deceased; Air A. H. Adams, nephew ; and Air Geo. Hudson, brother-in-law. Tho pallbearers were Messrs John Blundell, Louis Blundell (proprietors Evening Post), D. AI. Luekio, Geo. Robertson, R. E. Bannister and 11. J. 11. Eliott. Then followed the intimate friends of the deceased, employees of the Evening Post, a large number of general mourners, after which came a long line of carriages, containing among others the lion R. J. Soddon, Hon Dr Grace, M.L.C., Air John Dnl-hio, M.11.J1., Mr Presley Lukin (Evening Post), representatives of the commercial and literary staff's of the Post, Rev J. Paterson, Air Geo. Fisher (Mayor of Wellington), Ac. Tho following were also among the mourners: Messrs T. TV. Hislop, W. 11. (buck, J. K. Warhurton, T. .J. \V. Gale, J. If. Richardson, P. S. Cassidy (New Zealand Timks), R. A. Loughnau (New Zealand Turns), (!. \Vil.-,on (New Zealand Mail), W. 11. A tack, Geo. Humphries and A. Burns (Press Association), G. E. Tolhurst, T. K. Macdonald, G. F. Richardson, C. AI. Luke, B. AI. Alolinoaux, .J. Young, W. A. Kennedy (Union Steam Ship Company), Revs JI. Van Stavcren, C. S. Ogg and the Very Rev Dr Walters. Numbers of very beautiful wreaths were sent by relatives and private friends, the following being amongst the numberl >i Gore Gillon (Sydney), Mr and Airs Tolhurst, Air and Stafford, Sir Patrick and Lady Buckley, Air and Mrs B. Blundell, Air.). M. Richard-

son, Air and Mrs J. Blundell, Mrs 11. Blundell, Ac. Floral offerings were also received from the New Zealand Tunis Company, literary staff New Zealand Timms and A! a in, Messrs Williamson and Alusgrove (Alelbourne), represented by Mr Grattan Riggs; Otago Daily Times, Press Association, Sydney office Press Association ; Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin branches of the Institute of Journalists; proprietors, commercial and literary stall's and companionship of the Post, the pupils of the Terrace School, staff of the school, 'Telephone Exchange, the Grand Lodge of New Zealand and local lodges, the Irish National Federation, and members of the Central Club, Ac. The services in tho Mortuary Chapel and at the grave were conducted by the Rev T. H. Sprott, the interment taking place at the south end of the cemetery, where lie the remains of the hito Airs Gillon. Numerous telegrams and messages of sympathy were received during the day by the family of the deceased from all parts of the Colony.

At the annual meeting of the New Zealand Times Company on Monday, the following resolution was unanimously adopted : —“ The shareholders of tho New Zealand Times Company, in meeting assembled, desire to express to tho relatives of the late Air E. T. Gillon their sincere sympathy and regret for the great loss they have sustained.” At a special meeting of the Wellington Shorthand Writers’ Association last Monday, a resolution was carried tendering the heartfelt sympathy of tho Association to the family of the late Air E. T, (Gillon

in their sad bereavement. A 3 a mark of respect to Air Gallon’s memory, the ordinary practice meeting was adjourned till Thursd ly.

The announcement of tho death of Mr Gillon has been received in Christchurch with deep sorrow, he having been particularly well known in Christchurch, especially amongst the Masonic fraternity. rasssmßßEm^uno^BM