OBITUARY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11922, 21 December 1900, Page 7

OBITUARY.

MR A. 11. ROSS.

News was received on December 9 of the death on the Bth, at his son's residence, Pahiatua, of Mr A. H. Ross, ior many "years a wellknown figure in Dunedin. The deceased, gentleman, who was 79 years of age, was born at Newcastle-on-Tyne, and lived for several years at Sunderland, in which borough, prior to sailing for New Zealand in .1859, he was a town councillor and a guardian of the poor. On coming to Dunedin, Mr Ross accepted a position as chief draughtsman in the Survey Office.. He then entered into business on his own account us optician, and this he carried on until a few years ago. Mr-Ross to6k up his residence in what is now known as Eoslyn, and before the municipality was formed was chairman of the Wakaf i Road Board and school committee. He became a member of the Roslyn Borough Council on its constitution, and iii.1879 was elected mayor of tho borough. He was also a city councillor, and in 1880 was elected mayor of Dunedin. Be was an active member of the Benovolent Trustees, and also took a very keen interest in Harbour Board matters, being chairman for some five or six years. In 1887 he was elected to represent Roslyn in the House of Representatives, defeating Messrs Carlton and Hutchison; but in 1890 he .was defeated by Mr W. Dawspn, the boundaries of the district having been very considerably changed, and, though urged to. do so, He did not again seek to re-enter politics, as he found the hours observed to be too trying. Mr Ross was an enthusiastic astronomical observer, and took an active interest in the observations .of tho transit of Venus in 187+ and 1882. He waa a member of the Otago Institute, and contributed soyeral papers at its meetings. On retiring from, business in Dunedin, the deceased gentleman took' up. his residence at Makeretu, Hawke's Bay. During the last twelve months,.however, he resided with' one of his sons at Pahiatua. He has been in very indifferent health for about six months, t.iio Ultimate cause of death being paralysis, -Mr Ross leaves a widow and a grown-up, family, The eldest daughter is married ,to Mr H. Skeyy of Leith Valley, and the youngest son (Mr H. I. M. Ross) is in charge of tho photographic department of the Otago Wit^ ness.