OBITUARY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15672, 27 January 1913, Page 3 (Supplement)

OBITUARY

, MR JOHN BRYCE. ■WANGANUI. January 17.

Mr John Bryce, at ono time a notable ficruro in New Zealand polities, died yesterday, at tho age of 83 years.

Mr Bryce came to New Zealand in 1840, when ho was quite young. He joined tho cavalry volunteers as lieutenant in Wanganui during Titokowaru's war, and did good service. Ho became M.H.R. for Wanganui in 1866, and represented Waitotaw, (1851-87), Waipa (1890), Waikato (1891). He was Native Minister in tho Hall Cabinet (1879-81), but resigned on disagreeing with his colleagues regarding the action to bo taken against Te Whiti. Liter he rejoined the Cabinet as Nativo Minister and Minister of Dofeuco, and led an expedition of eon6ta.bularly and volunteers against Parihaka, which was occupied on November 5, 1881, Te Whiti, Tohu, and Hiroki being arrested. In 1882 he carried tho West Coast Peace Preservation Bill, providing for iho imprisonment of Te Whiti and Tohu during tho Queen's pleasure. In the samo year also he carried the Amnesty Bill, granting a free pardon to To 'Kooti. Mr Bryco was Native Minister also in tho Atkinson and Whitaker Ministeries (188284). In 1890 he led the Opposition against the Ballance Ministry, but resigned in tho samo year in consequence of a vote of censure for using in tho course of debato certain expressions reflecting on the conduct of tho Prime Minister. Referring to. this matter at tho time of the censure passed on Sir Joseph Ward towards the close of last parliamentary session, wo 6tated:." There have been several incidents in the House similar- to the one that has been engaging tho attention of the House during the past two days, but tho most famous of these in the annals of New Zealand parliamentary history is that which ended in tho dramatic exit from tho House of the Hon. Mr Bryce. Mr Bryco had merely remarked that an lion, member should bo ashamed of himself. Theso words were ruled by Sir William Steward, who was Speaker at the time, to be unparliamentary Mr Bryco was stopped in the middle of a sentence th.n.t he was not allowed to finish. He afterwards explained that the sentence he had in his mind waa this: 'The honourable member should be ashamed _of himself in relying upon a technicality to prevent an inquiry into a disgraceful charge against a member of this House.' The House, by 33 votes to 24, carried the following motion:—' That this I Houso regrets that the words taken down wcro used by tho lion, member for Waikato, although qualified as they were by the subsequent words used by the hon. member.' Mr Bryce having returned to tho Chamber, and having been informed of the resolution, made a brief speech, concluding with those words: 'After I sleep upon this matter I shall consider my own position. I regard the censure o'f tho House as a most grave one to me, and I shall, with your permission, now leave the Houso. Whether I enter again will be a rratter for my own consideration.' Mr Bryco then left the House, and from that day never re-entered it. The' incident closed his parliamentary career." 'The condition of_Mr Bryce's" health had of late been causing his friends anxiety. With advancing years his health ha.t failed. considerably, and ho was not able to rally from a recent sudden seizure. CAPTAIN JOHN WATSON. By the death of Captain John Watson, who passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 31, at the homo of liis daughter (Mrs George Thomson), Port Chalmers lost one of its oldest and most highly respected citizens. Captain Watson was born at Peterhead, Scotland, in May, 1834, and after leaving school served for two years in the Inland Revenue Department, but tired of it and went a 6 an apprentice on the whaling barque Victor in 1848, bound for tho Arctic regions. In 1854 he passed his examination as mate, and in that capacity made 12 voyages to the Arctic regions in various vessels, and in 1856 became master of the barque Perseverance. A few months later he was appointed ice-master of tho Dolphin—a yacht of 216 tons, which carried four guns and went in search of minerals in Greenland. The little craft got dismasted during a furious gale in the Irish Channel, but managed to crawl into Liverpool for repairs. Upon completion ot the latter the expedition was resumed, and proved successful. In May, 1857, Captain Watson reached the high latitude of 82| degrees north in search of whales, and the following year his vessel—the ship Gipsy —was crushed between icebergs and all hands had to seek shelter on an icefloe, where they remained for several days before they could venture south in the open boats. Some days later they sighted the barque Emma fast in the ice, ana after remaining on her for four months the party was taken to England. A few months later he left again for the Arctic regions, this time as chief officer on the ship Eclipse. The ice closed on the vessel in north, when in company wita the barque Heroine, of Dundee. All hands were set to work to cut a dock in the ice for both vessels, as the ice was pinching dangerously. Six hours later the Eclipse was crushed to a wreck, and shortly afterwards the Heroine was raised up bodily on a hummock of ice and dumped down upon the Eclipse, both vessels being reduced to splinters. Both crews had to camp on the ice for some days until tho weather moderated, when they sighted a steam whaler, which picked up as many as could be accommodated on board. Captain Watson and. the remainder of the castaways made the best of their way across the ice and, after many thrilling adventures, reached the Eskimo village of Upernavik. The Eskimos proved very hospitable, and the castaways lived with them for' some months before being rescued by a Danish brig, which conveyed them to Great Britain. His next cruisa to the Arctic was made in tho steam whaler Camperdown, in 1860. Captain Watson was chief mate of that vessel, which carried 10 boats and 85 of a crew. On one occasion his boat made fast to a very large sperm whale, but owing to the rough weather they were unable to kill it, and three other boats were sent to their assistance. A violent blizzard came down from the northern ice cap, driving huge bergs down upon the Camperdown at such a rate that she had to run for safety, leaving the boats to take care of themselves. As darkness approached the boats had to abandon theij 1 hard-won prize, which was picked up by another vessei three days later. Meanwhile the boats' crews took shelter on an ice floe and remained there until picked up by the Camperdown, which had a perilous passage to negotiate amidst hundreds of huge bergs before she managed to reaeh the open water. In September, 1862, Captain Watson accepted the position of second officer on the steamer Alhambra, bound for Melbourne, and afterwards commanded several sailing vessels trading to Australian ports. He came to New Zealand during the Maori War, and was sent in command of the barque Collingwood to the Chatham Islands two weeks after the escape of Te Kooti in the schooner Rifleman. The Collingwood brought back 160 Maoris from tho Chathams and landed them at Tararraki. A few years later Captain Watson acted as assistant pilot at Taiaroa Heads, and left that position to act as dockmaster and secretary for the Otago Dock Trust, a position he filled for 18 years. He afterwards had charge of the docks for a further period of 18 months, and then retired. A couple of years ago he took a trip to the Old Country and revisited the home of his boyhood, and since his return to Port Chalmers his health gave way at times and gradually undermined his iron constitution. Ho was a most genial man, and possessed a kindly disposition that mado him a prince of good fellows, and his death leaves a big gjap in the ranks of the old sailing ship skippers of a past generation.

An esteemed resident of Mannwatu died on Tuesday, December 31, in the person of Dr George Wilson. Dr Wilson was operated on for appendicitis on Sunday, but he gradually sank.' After practising in Edinburgh and Glasgow ha came to New Zealand in 1892, establishing himself at Palmerston, where he was known as a highly-successful surgeon and physician. He was a well-known member of the Manawatu Racing Club,

A well-known resident of, Wanganni, and a distinguished, veteran, in the person of Lieutenant Nevillo Thornton, passed away a few days ago at the age of 77 years. Deceased, who b.id been in failing hnalth for some years, hold tho French decoration the Legion of Honour for "distinguished service in tho Crimean War at the storming of tho Mamc-lon. The Mamclnn wafl ft fortified -post, the key of the Redan, from which the Allies had l*-er. repulsed by tiro Bnssia-ns

several times. On the occasion of th.B last repulse Lieutenant Thornton seized a tricolour from the standard-bearer and rushed into the breach made in the wall by tlie French artillery. The men followed, and victory crowned their effort. For some years he resided at PalmeTSton North, and latterly in Wanganui, where he was well known and widely respected. There passed away on Dec. 29, at his,, residence, Hilton road, Napier one of New Zealand's early settlers, Mr William Bernards Retemeyer. Mr Retemeyer arrived in New Zealand in 1858, and for some time noted as manager of the Tuturau Station in Otago, after whioh he wont to the diggings when the first goldfield rush took place in Otago. Mr Retemeyer was for over 20 years manager of Sjir William Fox's Westoo Estate, Rangitokei, after -which he went into farming _on his own account in the Manawatati district. On retiring from this he settled in Napier. He was for somo years captain of the Mounted Constabulary in the Rangitikei district, and also master of the Rangitikei Hunt. .He leaves a widow and a grown-up family. »

Another of tho early pioneers has, been removed from our midst in tho death of Mrs Annie Park, who passed away at her youngest son's residence at Levin "on Tuesday, the 14th inst. The deceased arrived in this dominion in the ship Silistria, in 1858, with flier parents, Mr and Mrs William Stewart.

Mrs Margaret Todd, who died at Owaka on December 31, arrived at Port Chalmera by the Maori in J 851 (writes our Balclu'tha correspondent). Her maiden name was Margaret Shand, and she was born in Aberdeen. About a year after her arrival in Otago 6ho wa6 married at East Taieri to Mr Charles Todd by the Rev. Dr Burns, and they 'took up a farm at the Taieri. After tho death of her husband she removed about 20 years later, with her family of five daughters and one son, to Lovcll's Flat, where she resided till 1878. in which year she removed to Owaka. Durim* the last seven years she 6pent her days in rest and peace among her several children and grandchildren—having given up her own home. She enjoyed splendid health, and despite her advanced age hardly knew what illness was till about three months ago, when tho strong spirit had to bend to the law of nature. Throughout her life she earned respect as a devout supporter of tho Presbyterian Church, and was loved for her hospitality and kindnetß, and admired for the unusually keen interest sho took in publio affairs. There are over 30 grand-children and several great-grand-ehildren. A well-known Rangitane chief, Tamati, passed away recontly at Parewanui, near Bulls. He was a member of the Mormon Church, and leaves a wife, two sons, and a daughter. Mr Neville Halo Tjiornton, the veteran scenic artist, died at Wanganni on December 26.

Mr George Allington, of Rangiora, died on December 29 at tho age of 83, says a Press Association message. He was associated with Mr Joseph Arch in the movement for the improvement of the conditions of agricultural labourers in England, and came to New Zealand in 1875.

A Press Association message announces the death ut his residenco, Bluff, of Mr William Todd, tho well-known Invereargill auctioneer, at the age of 70 years. Mr Todd arrived, at Invercargill in 1863, and was licensed as an auctioneer by ths Provincial Council in 1E65. He took part in the West, Coast rush, and for three successive years was Mayor of Hokitika. He also occupied the position of provincial treasurer there Mrs W. Grant, who passed away at her residence, Ckreinch, near Outram, on the 16th, was a very old resident of the district. Born at Kirkintilloch, near Glasgow, she sailed with her fatter, tho late Mr Thomas Buchanan, in the ship Philip Laing. Tho family settled for some time at Halfway Bush, and later on seleoted u. farm near tho West Taieri bridge. In 1866 she married the laic Mr Grant, and for some years resided at Southbridgc, near Milton. Tho Rev. Waltor Dunldey, vicar of Glenmark, died suddenly on Sunday, December 29, a Press Association telegram from Christchuroh states, at the age of 62 years. He was for many years precentor at tho Christehurch Cathedral, and was a prominent Mason.

Mr James Roy, whose death occurred at his residence, Woiruna, on the 18th inst., in his 83th year, was a native of Aberdeenshire, Scotland, whero ho was educated with a view to entering tho ministry of tho Presbyterian Church, but a breakdown in his health compelled him to give up his studies. He emigrated to New Zealand with his wife and infant daughter in tho ship Grasmere, the jubilee of which boat's arrival in New Zealand was celebrated in Dunedin recently. On his arrival in Dunedin he entered on an appointment ns home missionary, under tho Rev. Dr Burns, of First Church, Dunedin, conducting services in the Pemnsula,_ Anderson's Bay, and Halfway Bush districts. Later on he purchased a farm in the Wairuna district, to whioh he removed with his family. Hero he acted as tho first schoolmaster at Wairuna for a period of nine years. After this he was associated with the Rev. Mr Spence, the minister of Popotunoa parish, in carrying on tho mission work m tho outfield, embracing Waipahi, Pukefau, and Otaraia, until these districts Tvoro raised to a sanctioned charge. For many years ho acted on the commission of the peace.