DEATH OF MR JOHN PATERSON

Otago Daily Times, Volume 13696, Issue 13696, 12 September 1906, Page 3

DEATH OF MR JOHN PATERSON

—. oBy tho death of Mr John Paterson, which occurred at his residence, High street, yesterday, another of the • fast-diminishing links which bind tho oarly history of Otago with the present, day has been severed. As a citizen tho late Mr Paterson was not a prominent figure iu connection'with the active and strenuous public life of the community. He belonged to the quiet, steady, persevering, industrious order of workers who by their excellent lives set an 6vample to their follow men, and who by their unobtrusive piety and rehgjous efforts leave an impress, on their day and generation which' is alike lx>neficial to those with whom they are brought in contact as well a3 to the general 'community. During his 40 years' residence in this city Mr Paterson, by his consistent iifo and by his work on behalf of religion, won the esteem and maintained the respect of a largo circle of friends and ti considerable section of the public with whom he was brought into touch, and the news of his death, which wo published yesterday morning, will be received . with genuine regret by a large number of our readers. Mr John Paterson was bom in Edinburgh in. 1813, and was married at Banff on 'December A 1843, to which town Mrs Paterson belonged. Ho printed and conducted newspapers ill several parts of Scotland and .Ireland until coming to Otago with his family, whore ho arrived in the yvilliam Davie (Captain Peter Logan) on November 1, 1866. On their arrival Mr Paterson 'and family wcro welcomed by his brother (the Hon. James Paterson) and sister (Mrs (ko. Hepburn), and their numerous TC-latives and descendants. Mr Paterson worked at his trade as a printer on the Times, Witness, anil Star newspaper? in Dunodin until retiring from active work many years ago, since when and up till the time of his death ho had, with Mrs Paterson, resided quietly at his residence in High fstrcet. surrounded by his children and grandchildren. Mr Paterson found an active sphere of" religious work in .St. Andrew's Church with which he was connected for 40 years, and for a large proportion] of that time he conducted its Sunday'school and otherwise employed himself in'.'its. intcret's. For 40 years he was an occasional P-esbytcrian lay preacher, and ho officiated in most of tho nonAnglican Protestant churches in Duncdin and neighbourhood for many years. Ho was preceded to the colony by the relatives above-named and others, and also by his father, who undertook the voyage when SO years of age. and lived sonic years thereafter. On the 4th December, 1893, Mr and Mrs Paterson celebrated then' golden v/cdding at their residence, High street, when the proceedings were of the happiest and most cordial character, a very lifrgc number of' friends coming and going during the,afternoon and evening, and giving expression to tho hearty good wishes which arc usual on such occasions. At tho tunc of Jiis death Mr Paterson had reached tlm age of 93 years, and up till the end of a. good, useful, and even life, characterised by uprightness and strict integrity, he had pobession of wcll-prwervfd faculties of mind and body. Mr A. S. Paterson, the well-known merchant of.this city, is a son of tlm deceased gentleman.