OBITUARY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7866, 31 July 1911, Page 4

OBITUARY

ME P. MeFAELAND.

The death. occurred on Saturday afternoon of Mr Francis McFarland, proprietor of the Hotel Cecil, at, the age of seventy-one years. The deceased contracted a chili about a 1 week ago. and complications followed which ended fatally. - <

Mr MoParland was a native of County Armagh, Ireland, and landed in New South Wales in 1861. He came to the Otago Goldfields in 1862, and after trying his luck there for a couple of years, ho left for the West Coast, arriving there in 1865. The following year saw him as the owner of tho first baker's shop in fiobdon. In 1807 he went to Charleston, then a busy community which has played a part In the lives of 'many of Hew Zealand’s. pioneers. . In Charleston ho was married. While there hei was a member of tho Butler County Council. Prom Charleston lie removed to Brunner, ton, of which place he had the honour of being first Mayor. , About nineteen years ago 'Mr McFarland camo to Wellington, and entered into business as baker,and general storekeeper, a business which he left eight years ago to take over the Hotel Cecil. The deceased took a prominent part in Liberal politics,- and was a president of the Eighty Club. He always displayed a lively interest in matters concerned with, the West Coast, and .when a West Coasters’ Association was formed ho became one of its chief officers. At the time of his death he was a vice-president and chairman of the association. In affairs connected with tho Licensed Victuallers’ Association, of -which he was a vice-president, he exercised a strong influence. The deceased was captain of, one of the first volunteer corps formed on the West Coast. For over fifty years ho. was a. member of tho Oddfellows’ , Lodge, and was one of tho oldest appointed Justices of the Peace in New Zealand- _ln his earlier days ho took an active interest in athletics, and -was stakeholder in such noteworthy contests as , those in which O’Loughlin. met Hunt, Stenhouso and McParlano. Tho deceased will be re; mombered .for his. genial and kindly disposition, and for the energy With which ho espoused a cause in which ho once became interested. Ho leaves , a widow, two sons (Mr Prank McFarland and Mr James McFarland), and three daughters —Mrs Pender (wife of Mr Arthur Pender), Mrs Aldridge (wife of Mr Aldridge, late Inspector of Factories), and Mrs Dwyer (wife of Mr J. Dwyer, licensee of the Club Hotel).. : The funeral will leave the Basilica, Hill street, at 2.30 p.m. to-day for tho Karori cemetery. All West Coasters are invited to attend. VETERAN SEA CAPTAIN. PRESS ASSOCIATION. DUNEDIN, July 30. Capaa. Stewart, died on Saturday morning. He had , the topsail schooner Dunedin built at Dundee, and sailed her out to New Zealand, his wife and daughter being on board. Tho Dunedin traded successfully till the steamer Tairoa came out, and- upon that vessel reaching Dunedin he was given command, about 1875 or 1876. She was put into tho Timaru trade. Captain Stewart retained command till tho Tairoa was sold to the Union Steam Ship Co., when he was transferred to the Beautiful Star. Shortly afterwards he was sent Home by the Harbour Board to bring out the dredge 222. Ho steamed her out, and had some adventures by the way in that unwieldy craft. During dirty weather in tho Bay of Biscay the pumps got choked and the vessel filled. Many mem would have lost her and the whole crew, but Captain - Stewart, being a strong swimmer, dived into the bilges and got the pumps, cleared. It was a feat only possible by a strong, brave man. Captain Stewart afterwards took the 223 to Melbourne and brought her back after the hiring term- He also steamed her to Wellington after that. He retired ; from the eea a good many years ago. Deceased was known in recent years as an ardent advocate of the Bible .in schools and a supporter of the no-license movement. , One-son is a teacher at Geraldine and another at Wanganui. WELL-KNOWN CATTLE BREEDER GOES, July 39. Mr James Galt, of Tuturau, near Jl> tanra, died in a private hospital in Dunedin last evening. Deceased was well known throughout the Dominion as. a breeder of Ayrshires. Wien occupied by him the Mararua estate was looked upon as. the model farm in Southland. He was one of tho best-known cattle judges in the South Island, and took a groat interest in dairying. He was ebrtysix years old.