DEATH OP MR J. G. S. GRANT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12289, 28 February 1902, Page 5

DEATH OP MR J. G. S. GRANT.

It will bo with feelings of regret Hint the public generally will learn of tho death yesterday morning ol Mr J. (t. S. Grant, who for so many years—over 45—haa been a familiar figure in Duncdin •streets, and whose "Buy a copy, buy a copy!" will bo so well recollected by the many who frequently encountered the deceased as he pursued his vocation of vending literature to all and sundry as they •••ame Ins way. James Gordon Stuart. Grant, to give lum his full name, was born in U-antoii, in Klginsliire, in 1838, and was cdUeavcd first at the local parish school, ami thereafter he studied at the Aberdeen Grammar School, and at King's and Marischal Colleges, Aberdeen. Leaving tho Granite Gity, ho wont to Edinburgh, and took the arts classes, at that time taught in the i\cw College, awl finished I,;, University career nt St. Andrew's, where he obtained Hrst prize in moral philosophy and political economy. In 1855 Mr Grant left Scotland to come to Melbourne, from which place, according to his own statement, lie was seduced by the late Hon. W. H. Reynolds to accept the offer of becoming the rector of the Duncdin High School. Whatever were the rights or wrongs of the position Mr Grant, came to Duncdin in the i Bins °n September 8, 1855, to find that the High School was not for him, Although he has lived hern almost continuously ever sinoe-his only absence being in 1857, when he went for a trio round the colonies-he never got over Ins disappointment. His subsequent career is tersely put by Dr Hoclccn in bis "Contributions to tho I'.arly History of New Zealand," who says:-'Mr ,1, G. H. Grant, noted already as one of the Gil Bias's first immigrants, opened a private scliool-the Dunediii Academy—with fees ranging from a guinea and a-half a quarter for the ' three r's' to five guineas for a more liberal eduealion, ineluding, as his advertisement said, classics and mathematics." ... He developed a fancy for lecturing and preaching, and sometimes travelled considerable distances to indulge the fancy. His addresses were of an inflated and ponderous kind, quite unsuited to gain the attention of his audience or to impress them with any confidence in his ability. Any chances of success were thus ruined early, and since then Mr Grant has sustained no more than the role of a 'character' in tho community. His publi-cations-chiefly the Saturday Review and the Delphic Oracle-marked by some ability, but more quality of another kind, made him the hero of more than one exciting episode, and now form a curious feature in the literature of 35 years ago. When sent to the Provincial Council at a bveelcetion in 1866, he sought to protect the unfortunate thistle from' the extermination prepared for it in the Thistle Nuisance Ordinance, on the ground that it was the Scottish emblem'." On .Tune 9, 1864, Mr Grant headed a deputation of working men to the Provincial Council, and was arrested by order of the Sneaker. He afterwards apologised and was liberated. He contested the superintendency of the province when Mr Macandrew was returned in February, 1867, and in Anvil. 1868, he stood for the mayoralty of tho city when the late Mr Birch was elected. In April, 1874, when Mr .1. Bathgate, M.H.R., was appointed Resident Magistrate, the vacancy was contested by Mc?srs Wales, Barton, and Grant, and Mr Wales was successful. In December of the following vear the general election for the House of Representatives, under the new Representation Act, took place. Mr Grant being one of the defeated candidates. In .Inly, 1879, Mr R. Stout, now Chief Justice, resigned his seat for Dunedin in tho House, and Mr W. D. Stewart was returned, defeating Mr C. S. Reeves and Mr Grant. In the ironcral parliamentary elections in July, 1884, consequent on the

dissolution obtained by Major Atkinson, Mr Grant contested tho Duncdin Central soat, but was defeated. From this timo Mr Grant ceased to strive for publio honours, and devoted his enorgios to tho sale of literature in the streets of the city. Ho had a short illness, and in his last days ho was cheered' by many kindnesses on the part of his fellow-townsmen.

\\ o have received additional subscriptions to tho J. CI. S. Grant fund as follows: — Mrs Matthews, £l; J. Sinclair Thomson. £1; W. T. S„ £1; Gcpeof, £1 Is; X., Is. We have now in hand a total amount of £19 2s for the fund.