OBITUARY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12506, 10 November 1902, Page 5

OBITUARY.

DR JAMES COPLAND. We regret to have to announce the death of Dr .Tames Copland, who passed away at Gore yesterday afternoon after a brief illness. The deceased gentleman was born m Edinburgh in 1837, and was' educated hrsfc at the high school of his native city and subsequently at the Universities of Minburgh, Berlin, Heidelberg, and Aberdeen, and in the Theological Hall of the United Presbyterian Church, in connection with which he becamo a licensed preacher in 1858. Four years previously ho had taken the degree of M.A. at Edinburgh University, and in 1858 he received from the Heidelberg tho degree of lli.D. and in 1861 from that of Aberdeen the degree of M.D. His intention had been to proceed to China as a medical missionary, find at was while no was a waiting an appointment to tho mission field that he eamo to New Zealand in 1861 Deciding to remain in tho eolony, ho was received by the Presbytery of Dunedin-then the supreme court of the Presbyterian Church in tho provincial district,—and in May ,1865 lis was called to tho pastoral charge of tho Lawrence church, thus becoming the first settled minister in the Otago goldfields; J. hero lio laboured assiduously for over six years, making available his medical attainments as well as performing his ministerial duties, and in the rough pioneering work which fell tc his lot, and which he undertook m that spirit of loyalty and selfsacrifice that marked the labours of all the early ministers, he rendered inestimable service to the church he represented and to the cause of religion. To his ability and literary enterprise while ho was at Lawrence tho Presbyterian Oliurch owed its first organ—the Evangelist,-which lie continued to edit until 1874, when it becamo mergec. m the Presbyterian. Beforo this change eventuated <ie had accepted a call to a town charge, for in 1871 ho was inducted to tho pastorate of the North Dnnedin congregation, which was then organised for the first time. For 10 years he retained his ministerial connection, with unit oinircli, but in 1881 ho resigned lug charge with the view of devoting himself to tho piactico of mcdicino. A. few yews later lie removed to Gore, where, he resided ever since. Tho calls made upon a country practitioner involved him' repeatedly in exposure by night as we.ll as day, for hours at a time, to the severest, weather; but he never flinched from what, in obedienco to the highest traditions of his profession, he regarded as his duty. He made time, however, in the intervals of his practice, to identify himself very intimately with the oonduct of publio affaire in the district. I-le occupied for some time a scat in the Borough Council, and was the Mayor of Gore for one term. Ho was also a. member of the Southland Charitable Aid Board for some time. During the late war he took a most prominent part in tho patriotio movement in the Gore district. But his chief interest was in educational and religious matters. He was for years a member of tho Gore _ School Committee, and he was at the] time of his death a member of tho Southland Education Board. From the time of tho formation of tho Mataura Presbytery until its last meeting, when his resignation was handed in, he was its clerk. He was deeply attached to the Presbyterian Church of Otago and Southland, and was never absent from its annual meetings. Tor years ho wa3 the convener of tho Bible-in-Sehools Committoe. and for a time also he held tho convencrship .of the Mission Committee. Throughout his life ho was a frcquont contributor to the columns of the press, and almost up to tho very last was his pen trenchantly employed. He was twice married. Of the first marriage there were six children, of whom four—the eldest being Dr G. A. Copland, of Gore,—with his second wife, survive him. Our Oamaru correspondent telegraphs:— " The sudden death occurred here on Saturday, under sad circumstances, of Mr M. 0. Nevanas, organist of St. Luke's (Anglican) ■Church. Ho bad been in delicate health for some time, and on Saturday morning was attacked with hemorrhage of the lungs, near the show grounds, and died on the /street before anything could be done. Ho i had lately been in tho Flagstaff Sanatorium, near Dunedin, and had been temporarily benefited. As an organist he had considerable abilities, and for a short time was assistant-organist at tho Liverpool Town Hnil, of which town he was a, native. He had been settled in Oamaru for his health ' for four years, and his death came as a painful shock to the community. He nad an organ recital in preparation at the time of his death. The funeral this afternoon was a largo one, deceased being very popular."