OBITUARY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11216, 12 September 1898, Page 3

OBITUARY.

Mr Robert Chapman, one of tho early colonists, died on Saturday at his residence, Town Belt road, near Nevada.' Mr Chapman was born at Stonehaven, in Kincardineshire, and was educated first at a public school at Stonehaven, and afterwards at Edinburgh University. He was articled to a firm of solicitors in Stone-

haven, where lie served the necessary term, and then removed, to Edinburgh, where ho entered the law offices of Messrs Ray and Wood, Writers lo the Signet. He afterwards became managing clerk for Messrs Hope, Oliphant, and Mackay. In 1855 he married a niece of tho late General Sutherland, who had been Governor of Mauritius". Ho" became a member.of the Otago Settlement Association, and was one of the first applicants for land. He was unable to leave with the first ship, but came out in the Blundell, arriving with his wife and family on ihe 21st September, 18" S. Soon after his arrival he was appointed clerk to the bench, to which office was added in 1849 that of registrar of births, deaths, and marriages for Otago, and official administrator of intestate estates. In-the following year he became registrar of the Supreme.Court and registrar of deeds. On the' establishment of Provincial Councils about 1853, Mr Chapman Was appointed clerk to the Council, which position he held till 1862, when he resigned owing to the pressure of other official duties. In 1860, owing to fail-' ing health, he retired from oflice. Gilder the Provincial Council system, iin* Chapman was returning officer for Dunedin, Kaikorai, and Bruce, nnd in the early days bis own house served as a polling booth more than ohce. Mr Chapman was a. member of tbe : Dunodin- Town Board. He was acl- ! milted a solicitor of the Supremo ' Court, but never practised. Since his retirement in 1863 Mr Chapman lived very quietly at his residence near Nevada, ancl enjoyed good health until April of last year. Besides his widow, bo leaves behind him two children out, of five born—Mr C. R. Chapman and Mrs J. ft. Sinclair. In 1892, when his son was mayor of the city, ho erected, in memory of his friend, the late Dr Thomas Burns, the column which now forms a feature of the Octagon. Tiio late Mr John Chisholm, sen., whose death at an advanced age is announced in our columns to-day, was a very old settler. For many years he was a well-known and justlyrespected resident of York place, ancl a member of Knox Church congregation. His wife, four sons, ancl two step-daughters,(Mrs John Jackson and Mrs Frank Harkness) arrived by the same vessel, ami the whole fa.mily were for a number of years located in or about the city. Three of the sons bave been active and prominent public men for. a length of time. These are Mr Alexander Chisholm, of West Taieri; Rev. James Chisholm, of Milton; and Mr Robert Chisholm (of Seoullar and Chisholm), tbe well-known city councillor.