OBITUARY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11229, 27 September 1898, Page 7

OBITUARY.

Mr Robert Chapman, one of the early colonists, died on Saturday a,t his residence, Town Kelt road, near Nevada. Mr Chapnian 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 Stonehaven, where he served the necessary term, and then removed to Edinburgh, where he entered the law offices of Messrs Ray and Wood, writers to the Signet. He afterwards became managing clerk for Messrs Hope, Oliphant, and Mackay. In 1845 ho married a niece of tho late Goneral Sutherland, who had been Governor of Mauritius. He 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 tho 21st September, 184-8. Soon after his. arrival he was appointed clerk to the bench, to which office was added in 1819 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 1868, owing to failing health, he rotired from office. Under the Provincial Council system, Mr Chapman was returning officer for Dunedin, ICaikorai, and Bruce, and in the early days his own house served as a polling booth more than once. Mr Chapman was a member of the Dunediu Town Board. Ho was admitted a solicitor of the Supreme Court, but never practised. Since his retirement in 1868 Mr Chapman lived very quietly at his residence near Nevada, and enjoyed good health until April of last year. Besides his widow, he leaves behind him two children but of five born—Mr C. R. Chapman and Mrs J. R. Sinclair. In 1892, when his son was mayor of the city, he erected, in memory of his friend, tho late Dr Thomas Burns, the column which now forms a feature of the Octagon.

The lato Mr John Chisholm, sen., whose death.at an advanced ago is announced in our columns this week was a very old settler. For many years he was a well-known and justlyrespected resident of York place, and a mem' bor of Knox Church congregation. His wife, four sons, and two step-daughters (Mrs John Jackson and Mrs Frank Harkness) arrived, by the same vessel, and the whole family were for a number of years located in or about the city. The four sons have been active and prominent public men for a length of' time. These_ are Mr Alexander Chisholm, of West Taieri; Rev. James Chisholm, of Milton; Mr Robert Chisholm (of Scoullar and Chisholm), the well-known city councillor; and Mr John Chisholm, of Edendale, who will be remembered by old volunteers as the champion shot of 1867, and is now connected with various local bodies in tho south.

; Mr William Brebner, senior check clerk in the Dunedin telegraph office, died on the morning of tho 13th from a sharp attack of pneumonia. He became ill about a fortnight ago, and was , compelled to lay up, but was apparently improving until Saturday, when he.had. .a relapse. Mr Brebner joined the civil service about 25 years ago, and has been over 20 years in the Duuedin office. He was much esteemed by all who knew him. He was 41 years of age, was twice married, and leaves a widow and five children. The deceased gentleman was a son of Mr and Airs T. Brebner, who arrived in the John Wickliffe.

Mrs Ronaldson, wife of the Rev. W. Ronaldson, Grand Secretary of tho New Zealand Masonic Constitution, died on Monday morning; 12th, at her residence, Linwood, flear Christchurch. The deceased lady was subject to heart disease, and her death was very sudden, occurring while her husband was away at Kaiapoi.. Her remains will bo interred in Dunedin.

Another of the now fast disappearing band of "Expedition" >men died at Nelson a few days ago. Mr Thomas Dodson, of Wakapuaka, who died in his 92nd year, landed in Nelson (the Mail states) in November, 1841, from tha barque Will Wateh, one of the ibreo vessels forming ihe expedition sen: out from England by the New Zealand Company, under the command of Captain Wakefield, for the purpose of founding the Nelson settlement. Mr Dcdson was cne of the first members of the Loyal Nelson Lodge ,of Oddfellows, 'and in later years he occupied a seat in the Provincial Council. For a long time past he resided at Wakapuaka, where a valley bears his name, and until lately he enjoyed good health in spite of his advanced age. His death was due to an attack of bronchitis following influenza.

Mr Duncan M'Farlane, an old resident, died somewhat suddenly on the. 30th from failure of the heart's action. , He was a native of Glasgow, and a carpenter by trade. He arrived in Dunedin in 1858 by. the ship Three Bells. In 1863 he -tvas appointed caretaker of the Government buildings, and held the position until the abolition for the provinces. He leaves a widow and a family of seven children.

The figure" of Mr Henry Wadie, who passed away on Tuesday, 30th, was, by virtue of his service for 34- years and seven months in the office of ueher of the Supremo Coiirt, a familiar one to those whose business or inclination has taken them into that court. He was appointed to his office by Mr Justice Richmond, and in the long stretch of years from that time to this, during which time many changes have occurred, ho performed his duties with consoientious care and to the complete satisfaction of those to whom he was responsible and of' the legal profession,'. He was a well-in-formed man, and a man, moreover, of the kindliest instincts, and his death, though for some time expected, has caused considerable, regret. Mr Wadie, who was a native of Knightsbridge, London, arrived jn Otago in company with his wife, who survives him, by the. Palmyra in February, 1858, and had reached the advanced ase of 82 years. Threo sonß. and a daughter are left, with their' mother, to mourn their loss.