DEATH OF MR JOHN BARNES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8655, 19 November 1889, Page 3

DEATH OF MR JOHN BARNES.

A citizen who for over a quarter of a century took a prominent part in Dunedin municipal politics passed away about dawn yesterday morning, after a protracted illness, which was borne with exemplary patience and submission We refer to Mr John Barnes, ex-mayor of the city. Mr Barnes was a native of Stockport, in Lancashire. He was born on the 24th Decem; ber 1817, and was thus in his 72nd year. In 1858 he emigrated to the colony from London by the ship Nourmahal, and arrired in Otago in May of that year. He entered into business as a carter and contractor, and his operations extended to Garrying goods to Tokomairiro, the Lindis, and Tuapeka. Among other contracts which ha fulfilled were contracts for the construction of the Rattray street, Stuart street, and Pelichet Bay jetties, and portion of the Port Chalmers railway. On the 2nd December 1863 Mr Barnes was elected a member of the Towu Board as representative of South Ward, and he retained his neat until the dissolution of that body in April 1865. In August of the following year he was elected a member of the City Council, but in 1867 he resigned his seat in order to assume the office of inspector of works. He agaiu entered the council in 1870, and pnee more resigned in 1874 to become inspector of works. At the September elections in 1879 he again successfully wooed the suffrages of the ratepayers fpr Meptiop to' the City Council, and he retaiucd his seat until 1885, when be reached the height of his ambition, and wai elected to the office of mayor of the city, In "November 1883 Mr Barnes also was elected a member of the Harbour Board, and us coptinued to represent the city on that body until February 1838, after which time he was unconnected wjth public affairs. Both in the City Council and Harbour Jjoard Mi Barnes brought sound common sense and shrewd judgment to bear on the questions that came up for decision. He was a striking example of a man who, without the advantages of education, succeeded by dint of his strong personality and steadfastness of purpose in attaining positions of trust and responsibility in the commuuity. Abont 18 months ago Mr Barnes suffered internal injuries by a fall from a horse at Milton, and he never recovered. Dr Martin, who attended him latterly, attributes his death to a general break up of the system. Mr Barnes leaves a widou aud thren of a family—two sons and a daughter. The flags at the Corporation and Harbour Board offices were displayed halfmast high yesterday out o£ respect to his memory, •