DEATH OF THE HON. MATTHEW HOLMES

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1544, 2 October 1901, Page 47

DEATH OF THE HON. MATTHEW HOLMES

The news of the death early on Friday forenoon at Hawkestone street, Wellington, of the Hon Matthew - Hollies, M.L.C., would be received with regretby a very large; circle of friends. Death has been busy this year among members of the Legislative Council; first, Sir John McKenzie, then the Hon J. Kerr, and now the Hon M. Holmes have passed away, after long and useful careers in the service of the country. When the Chamber met yesterday members silently awaited the moving of the adjournment, Avhich Avas done a few minutes later by the Hon W- C. Walker.

The late Hon M. Holmes arrived in the colony in 1860 or IS6I from Victoria, where he had been a member of the firm <af Holmes, White and Co., stock and station agents, at Melbourne and Geelong. He took up land ,at Oamaru and el inhere, and commenced business as a stock-owner. A year or two subsequently be Avas appointed a member of the Otago Provincial Council and then in 1866 a member of the Legislative Council. He was an active member of both bodies. After his arrival in the colony he became one of New Zealand’s most enterprising colonists, being known throughout Australasia as a breeder of stock. In the early sixties Mr Holmes chartered a vessel to bring to this colony the first lot of pedigree stock he introduced into New Zealand. He spent large sums of money in*improving the breeds of sheep, and some of the best Leicester and Lincoln sheep ever brought to. the colony were impoited by him. In addition to this, he imported valuable samples of grain, doing much to improve grain-growing in the South Island. At the time of his death he was the owner of Castle Rock Station, near Liimsden, on the Invercargill Kingston line, one of the best-known properties in the Lakes district, and also of Manapouri Station, a considerable estate neay Mossburn, in the fertile Waiau distinct, and on the shores of the famous Manapouri lake.

Mr Holmes had been' in failing health for a considerable time, and his death, though not unexpected, was sudden. He leaves three living daughters, Mrs McLean (wife of ihe Hon G. McLean), Mrs White (wife of Mr John White, solicitor, Dunedin) and one unmarried. There are also three sons living s James (who managed the affairs connected with Manapouri. and Castle Rock), Allan (solicitor, Dunedin) and MattheAV Stuart (at Kakanui). -When the Legislative Council met yesterday-afternoon the Hon W. CWalker rose to move the adjournment of the Chamber. He said it was with great sorrow that he was obliged to move an adjournment on account of deftth, hut another of their number had been called away from the Chamber. The late Mr Holmes had lived a most useful live, and had served as a most useful member of the Chamber. The Minister then moved, “That this Council, do now adjourn until eight o’clock this evening as a mark of respect to the memory of the late Hon Matthew Holmes.”

The Hon W. D. H. Baillie' spoke in support of the motion, and the Council adjourned. In the House yesterday, the Premier said he regretted that death had been again in their midst, and that the Hon Matthew Holmes, M.L.C., had beep called to bis long. home. He had been a member of the Legislative-Council'since ;the year 1866; and had served the colony well in that capacity, though his health, of late years had prevented him from taking as active a part as he otherwise might in the work of the country. He; spoke of what Mr Holmes had done in the introduction of pedigree horses, cattle and sheep into this colony. He moved that the House should adjourn till 7;30 p.m. as a mark of respect to the memory of Mr Holmes. Mr J. W. Thomson, in seconding the motion, spoke of Mr Holmes as a good and en* terprising colonist, and of his work on behalf of agriculture. The Hon T. Y. Duncan spoke to like effect, and the House adjourned at 3.40 p.m. till 7.30 p.m. ■