OBITUARY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7447, 23 May 1911, Page 1

OBITUARY

MR JAMES ASHCROFT WELL-KNOWN EX-CIVIL SERVANT. Death has removed ft vary well known ‘citizen of Wellington, Mr . James Ashcroft. Air Ashcroft had been iu poor health for several years, and a cold caught about a weak ago brought on the symptoms which ended fatally yesterday at his residence, llofcson-strcet. Mr Ashcroft’s last appointment was as Official Assignee at Wellington, from twhich ho retired owing to ill-health in [February, I&uS, Ifo was horn in Lonidon in April, 18J4, and camo to New 'Zealand in the ship Kensington in 183:2, entering the service of Messrs Peacock !aiul Co., of Christchurch, lie went to Oamaru in 18G3, and removed to Dunedin about IST*-’. For two sessions he was a member of the 'Otago Provincial ConnIc.l. He entered journalism for fivo years as editor of tho “Otago Daily Times, and was then appointed Official Assignee at Dunedin, a position for which ms commercial training had well fitted him. .Nine years later ho was transferred to Wellington in tho same capacity, witn tho 'additional duty or District Coroner. When ho retired in 1308 his record of inquests totalled 1150. His bankruptcy experience covered tho administration of sometning like 3800 estates for the benefit ot creditors. The deceased leaves a widow, a son resident in Auckland, and two daughters. A CHEEKY OUTLOOK. Tho late Mr Ashcroft’s kindly generous nature was wol Icxemplified by the declaration, upon his retirement; —"X am seventy-.our* years of age, and can not hope to live much longer, but as long as I livo I will do what I can to bo of uso to my fellow-creatures, and employ myself in a pi'ofitable manner/’ liis outlook on life was cheery, and many stories of his which got into print were well worth, the space by reason of their real humour. In ono ho said: “I confess I remember only one really satisfactory reason for a bankruptcy, and that was in the case oi an undertaker, an£ the reason ho gave was a great falling off in his business/’ His unique experience of bankrupts made his opinion on the subject worth having: ‘ ‘ “Do away with bankruptcy altogether, say some. Then you must do away with credit, and make all debts debts of honour. It- works on the racecourse, but .how it would work in commerce is a question I cannot 'answer. I am afraid 'the clover rogue /t who could persuade People he was honest, would have it all hiis -own way. But whilo the credit system 'in all its wonderful ramifications is in .dull force, society will never consent to a man getting ho relief from his debts, when perhaps ho is in debt because others won’t pay their debts to h:m, or because he has property ho cannot realise, or he has been sick or bas lost his employment, or (as in one case) for libel and cast in heavy damages, and in another sued-for damages J ono by his dog, and once in tho hands of tho lawyers. God pity him.” A number of efforts in verse and short pamphlets came from tho late Mr Ashcroft’s pen. Among tho subjects of his pamphlets were "Ritualism” and "Th© Auriferous Resources of Otago and Southland.”