OBITUARY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16415, 21 June 1915, Page 2 (Supplement)

OBITUARY

THE HON. E. C. J. STEVENS. CHRISTOHURCH, June 6. Tho Hon. E. C. .J. Stevens d:cd last night. The Hon. lid ward Cephas John Stevens, M.L.C., who was a Minister in the Atkinson Administration, beuig a member of the I Executive- Council from October B, 1887, to January 24, lSiil, was the youngest son ot the lato Rev. W. E. Stevens, rector of Sallord, Oxfordshire, England. Born on October 18, 13.57, and educated at Marlborough College and at tho Royal Agricultural College, Cirencestcr, hfc came to Lyttelton m September, liJSB, on the ship Zealandia. Ho was for many years a, member of the firm of Ilarman and Stevens, well known in Chrititchurch. Mr Stevens was prominent in New Zealand politics since 1b63, when ho became- a- member of the executive of tho Canterbury province during Mr Bealeys superintendency. He retired three years later, on the election of the late Mr W. S. Moorhouse to that oflice, and oflered himself as a candidate for the Selwyn electorate in the House- of Representatives, to which he was returned without opposition. At tho following general election Mr Stevens contested the sum© seat as a Freetrader and opponent of the grain duty, and was deieatod by a single, vote. In 1876 he was returned a s member for Christchurch City at the head of the poll, his colleagues boing the Hon. E. Richardson and Mr Moorhouse. On the election following the dissolution granted to Sir George Grey's Government in 1379, he was again elected for Christchurch. At the close of this Parliament he accepted a seat in the Legislative Council, being appointed on March 7, 1382. In the deliberations of this branch of the Legislature he took part up £ the time oi his death. New Zealand, is indebted to Mr Stevens for the origination of the Public Trust Act, which was carried through Parliament by Sir Julius Vogel, and he was a consistent advocate- of Freetrade throughout his parliamentary career. He was married in 1869 to Maria, widow of Henry Whitcombe, C.E., who lost his life by drowning in 1864 in the Teremakau River during his explorations on the West Coast of the South Island. , MR JOHN SIDEY. Tho death of Mr John Sidey, which took place at his residence, Corstorphkie, Caver.sham, removes a. well-known* tiguro from the Dunedin district. Hβ passed away on Juno 14 at the ago of 92 years. . All his life Mr Sidey has been a very liberal giver to charitable and other worthy objects. He paid the debt on the Caversham Presbyterian Church, and at the eame timo installed a handsome, organ in the building. He also contributed liberally towards the cost of building many of the institutions connected with the religious, educational, and social life of the city. One of his last acts was the placing of his signature on a cheque for £100 which he had donated to the Wounded Soldiers' Fund in support of the Soldiers' Queen. In March, 1913, Mr Sidey left Dunedin on a trip to the Old Country. He was in Britain on the outbroak of tlio present war, and was stranded for some time owing to all vessels to the dominion being commandeered by the Government. Mr Sidey' was born in March, 1823, in Edinburgh, Scotland, " where he was brought up to the business of his father, who was a builder and contractor. He remained in Edinburgh until he was 20 years of age, and afterwards went to London, 1 where he was joined by his father, and the firm entered into business as speculative builders. After selling a few of their properties to advantage, a period of depression ensued. Mr. Sidey, sen., returned to Edinburgh, and f r r John Sidey joined the association which had undertaken tho ooloni&aI tion of Otago. He purchased, when taking out his passage to New Zealand, 50 acres of rural land in the new settlement, 10 acres of suburban land and a town section of onequarter of an acre. Mr Sidey arrived at Port Chalmers by the ship Blundell in 1848, and settled on his 10-acre section, which was situated about halfway between Dunedin and Port Chalmers. After a time, believing there was a prospect of successful business as a storekeeper, he Bent to England for a shipment of goods, and opened a store on his town section, where the Grand Hotel now etands. This business was carried on till 1857, when, having two years previously purchased land at Cbrstorphine, he settled on the property, on which he resided for SO years. Tho site now occupied by the Grand Hotel, in High street, was let on lease by Mr Sidey on more than one occasion, and the interest in the building was eventually purchased by him. Mr Sidey brought his land into a thorough state of \ cultivation, and his residence, with it 3 beautiful surroundings, is well known. In the early days Mr Sidey was a member of the Caversham and Green leland Road Boards. With the late Mr Macandrew and others, he was interested in the erection of the old Mechanics' Institute, which was built and successfully conducted for some time in the early days. Mr Sidey was married in Dunedin, in 1858, to a daughter of Mr Angus Murray, of the Highlands of Scotland, and his two sons and two daughters survive. One of the former (Mr T. K. Sidey) is the present M.P. for Dunedin South, and the other (Mr A. M. Sidey) is a land, estate, and financial agent. Two of Mr* Sidey's brothers survive him. Mr Robert Sidey, who is six years younger, came out to ths colony in the John Wiokliffe in 1848. He later went to Sydney, where ho now resides. The Rev. Thomas Sidey, of Edinburgh, is 20 years younger than his brother.

MR WILLIAM SHAND. Tho death occurred on June 13, at 52 Manor place, of Mr William Shand, late of Keith. Hall, Allanton. Mr Shand was one of the well-known Taieri farmers who did so much to make the- plain the fertile land it now is. He arrived at the Taieri in November, 1873, and resided there till February, 1912. About tho middle of that month the family left the Taieri to live in Dunedin, and on that occasion Mr Shand and the members of his family received many expressions of - the popularity and esteem in which they were held. Shortly after leaving the Taieri Mr, Mrs, and Miss Shand toured Australia and the South Sea Islands, and then took up their residence at Manor place, Dunedin. Mr Shand was married in 1880 to a daughter of Mr John Duncan, of Cherry Farm, Waikouaiti, and later of Corner Bush, Merton. He had two children —a son and a daughter. The former died in 1905, and the daughter has resided with her parents. Much regret will be felt at the decease of so popular a member of the community. MR, JOHN SMAILL. Mr John Smaill, well-known throughout Southland as a Government land valuer, died suddenly on Tuesday, Bth inst. Tho lato Mr ■ Smaill was a wellknown resident of thf Gore district (states the Ensign). He was a native of Corstorphine, near Edinburgh, Scotland, and was a son of the late Mr Charles Smaill, of the Otago Peninsula, arriving in the dominion by the ship Strathallan in 1858. Mr Smaill was educated at tho Otago Boys' High School, having entered that school in 1868. For some years he followed farming pursuits with his father, but early in 1879 he removed to Gore, carrying on business at East Gore in partnership -with Mr A. L. Brown, under the name of Smaill and Brown, general merchants. The partnership was carried on for several years, when it was dissolved. Mr Smaill shortly afterwards entered :nto partnership with Mr R. M'Lnnnan, of the Hyde Home Station, as skin and produce merchants. In 1899 he was appointed Government Land Valuer, in succession to Mr Thomas Green, who had retired, which office he held until his death. During his long residence at Gore, and prior to his acceptance of tho Government appointment, Mr Smaill took a keen interest in local public matters.

A Press Association menage from Hastinse record's the death of Mr James Nelson Williams, of Frimley. Deceased, who was 77 years of age, arrived in Hawke's Bay in tho early fifties, and was a pioneer sheep farmer both in the Hastings district and on tho East Coast, and also promoted the fruit growing industry. He was well known for his public spirit and philanthropy. The Rev. William Kirk, one of the pioneer missionaries in New ZeaTand, died at Petone in hie ninetieth year. He had been confined to his bed for only two days (says the Now Zealand Times). Rom at Ferry-on-Trent. the late Mr Kirk was «, Methodist local preacher in London for a while and was ordained to tho ministry in 1845. That same year he arrived in New Zealand in the ship John Wesley, being one of eight raissionariee sent out by the Church Missionary Society. First, he was stationed at Hokianga, arid after that at Ohinemutu. When on the Canterbury plains in 1853 he saw the first church erected in High street, Christchureh. Among his other charges were Waikouaiti Kai Iwi (where he was in charge of a native industrial school). Mangomii, Nelson Wellington, Now Plvmouth. Auckland and Richmond. While in Wellington he was concerned in the buildinc of a. Wesleyan church in Manners street and afterwarde of a new church in Taranaki street. In 1885 he retired from active ministerial work, and since that time lived in tho Hutt Vallev.' He -was predeceased some six years ago by his wife, who was the oldest daughter of the late Rev. John Hobbs. tho first Weeleyan missionary who ever came to New Zealand, arriving in 1823. They were

married in 1843, and Mr Kirk's first duty afterwards was to found the first mission on the Wanganui River. The deceased is survived by two sone (Mr J. H. Kirk, merchant, of Christchurch, and Mr R. C. Kirk, solicitor, of Wellington!, and three daughters (Mrs Garlick, wife of the Rev. S. J. Garlick; Mrs Fred Overton, of Taihape; and Mis= IC. C. Kirk, of Petone). Another of the very old identities of New Plymouth passed away on Saturday, May 22. in the person of Mr David Sole, of Weetown (says the Taranaki Herald). Mr Solo was the second of several brothers who came out in the Oriental, arriving at Aow Plymouth on November 18, 1841. He was born on June 4, 1822, and was therefore almost 93 years of age. He was employed on the original survey of the settlement u:idnr the late Mr Carrington. -He v.-ns a (typical West Countryman, hardworking honest ae the day, and physically a. fine man. Up to -within a few- days ago he was about in his usual robust health, appearing likely to live for many years. .Many old residents of Otago will read with regret of the death of Mr Sheddan Brijgh. Mr Brugh was by trade an engineer, having served his time in Scott's shipbuilding- yards on the Clyde. Sixty years aa-o 'ho was at the Crimea as enprineer of a troopship, and it is said that while in those waters he refused an offer of the position of engineer on the King of Greece's yacht. In 1857 he came to Lyttelton by the ship Glentannar, and travelled by schooner to Dunedin, the voyp.go being protracted to six weeks owing to a southerly ,gale carrying the vessel to the latitude of Gisborne. From Dunedin he went to Port Molyneux by another schooner. His father and mother also his brother (Mr James Brugh), had settled at Port Molyneux, ■ and later took up a sheep station in the Oatlins district, and -went thither to join them. They were actually the first settlers in this part of Otago That was his introduction to the life which he adonted—the life of a squatter During the last 20 years lie travelled about the world a great deal, but usually came to Otago for the summer. One of his nephews is Dγ Brugh, of Balclutha; others are Mr J. B. Brugh, accountant; Mr W. K Brugh, solicitor, both of Dunedin; and Sheddan T. Brugh, of Singapore. General regTet will be felt at the death, of the Rev. Canon King, who for many years was vicar of St. Peter's Church, Caversham. He was the elder son of the Rev. Bryan King, and was born at the rectory of St. George's in the East, London He was educated at St. Paul's School, London, and later joined the firm of G. S..King and Co., Liverpool, and in 1869 was admitted as a partner. Hβ went to Bombay and acted for five or six years 'as head of the firm there. Coming out to West Australia in 1878, the late Canon King was ordained deaoon by the Bishop of Perth for the Bishop of Salisbury. In 1879 he waa ordained priest, and for five years was stationed at Grecnough, West Australia, and for two years at Green Ponde, Tasmania. Coming "to New Zealand, he was appointed theological tutor for the Dunedin diocese, before Selwyn College was established, and was also curate in charp of St. Martin's, North-East Valley. Then he was appointed vicar of St. Peter's, Caversham, and retired from that position about threi> years ago. Mrs King survives him, and he leaves two sone—Mr C. G. Bryan King, of Timaru apd tho Rev. V. G. Bryan King, of this city. Canon King wns a member of the Masonic fraternity, and was Grand'chaplain of tho Grand Lodge. Mr Martin Fahev, aged 90 years/ died at the residence of his daughter, Mrs James Dallas, Balchitha, on Thursday, 27th ult The deceased was a native of Gal way Ireland, and in 1852 emigrated to Australia and came to New Zealand 10 years later' He took up land near Balclutha, "and carried on farming for over 30 years, after which ho retired, a.nd resided at Port Molyneux Kakapuaka, and North-East Valley. He was halo and hearty, typical of the old pioneers. His wife died about three years ago, and there is a surviving family of four daughters and' two sons.

There were laid to rest on a recent Saturday afternoon, at the Southern Cemetery, the remains of Mrs Catherine Cunningham, one of the dwindling band of thoso who arrived at Port Chalmers by the Philip Laing, on April 15, 1848. Sixty-seven years have brought many changes, and when those hardy pioneers landed there were none of the adjuncts of settlement and civilisation. Catherine Mahone was then a lissom lass of 16, and has now, a.s Mrs Cunning-ham, passed away in her 84th year. Her husband, Mr James Cunninglinm, who was a fellowpassenger, predeceased her 30 years ago. Tho late Mrs Cunningham was full of reminiscences of the early days. Among these was that of a feat whioh she acconv plidied when, as quite a young woman, she carried a 501b b.-,g of flour on her shoulder from Dunedin over the hill to Halfway Bueh. In the natural course of events the survivors of that adventurous band are few, and now rapidly becomine fewer. At the last celebration of Anniversary Day, in March, they were duly enumerated, and their number was 53.

Th» death occurred at Reefton on the 24th of Mr W. C Mirfin, the oldest journalist on the West Coest, and for 43 years editor of the Inangahila Herald, Reofton (telegraphs our Grey mouth correspondent). The deceased, who has been ailing for some time paet, had been an inmate of the Reefton Hospital for some days, and passed peacefully away as stated." In the earlv part of 1912 Mr M'"rfin celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of his appearance on the journalistic stacre having joined the literary staff of the Otago Daily Times in 1862. Of the notable band who then contributed to the Otago Daily Times. Mr Mirfin was the last to succumb. Mr Mirfin's contemporaries on the Times in 1862 were Mr Julius Vogel (editor), Mr Robinsoc (sul>Hitor). Mr W. H. Herrison (a«sistnnt sub-editor and editor of the Otngo Witness). Mr Bell (later proprietor of the Evening Star, assistant reporter), Mr Ebriezor Fox (chief reporter, formerly of the Manchester Guardian), Mr Mirfin (theatrical arr) law reporter and commercial editor). Mr Alexander Reid (shipping reporter), with his Honor District Judge P.obinson, Mr B. L. Farjeon, and Mr James Browne as occasional contributors. TV hte Mr Herrison for many years edited the Grey Argus. Mr Mirfin -was well known throughout the district.

, Mr George Dear, who died at Rongotea on the 15th inst., at the age of 80 years, was one .of the oldest settlers of the district (says the Hawera Star). He came out from England when a young man to the goldfields of Australia, and then on to New Zealand, joining in the gold rushes of the West Coast. He subsequently went to the North Island, and took up land at Rongotea, which was then covered in bush and manuka scrub. That was 40 years ago, and Mr Dear has farmed there ever since. Captain Alexander M'Neill, who died at AYanganui recently, was (records the Chronicle) one of the very few remaining British officers who took part in the Indian mutiny. He actively participated in that ■war from the beginning to the end. He was at the first rising in Meerut to the storming of Delhi, where he was wounded. He was attached to the Royal Engineers, and many of the main roadways (now railways) in the affected districts in India were formed tinder his supervision. On retiring from active service he came to New Zealand, where he purchased the Ardlussa Station in Southland, in partnership with hie brother, Sir Malcolm M'Nefll. He was in tho House of Representatives for several years as member for Wallace. For the past 30 years he has resided at Wanganui. He leaves a family of five daughters and five sons. One of the latter is Mr H F. M'Neill, of Wellington. One who was probably tho oldest member of the Methodist Church in New Zealand has just died, namely, Mr Henry Wrigley, of Wellington, aged 89 years. Hie first ticket of membership bore tho date of 1843, and during all the intervening years Mr Wrigley has been in full connection with his church. Deceased was born in Yorkshire, and came to New Zealand in 1858. For tho last 20 years deceased has resided in Wellington and been a prominent member of the old«Msnners Street Church, having filled nearly every position open to a layman.

Mr John O'Brien Beckett, whoso death occurred at Upper Riccarton. was (says the Feildins Star), an old Indian Civil Servant. On his retirement from the service in 1&32 ho settled in New Zealand. Ho went through the Mutiny. Mr Beckett was a great hunter, explorer, and mountaineer, and penetrated farther into Thibet than any previous explorer had done from India up to that time. Mr Alfred Ladd has died at New Plymouth, at the age of 84- years. He went to Auckland with the 18th Royal Irish Regiment during the Maori war, over half a century ago, and took part in the Waikato campaign. He lived in Auckland for many years. About 30 years ago he removed to New Plymouth, where he carried on business as a builder. As a sergeant in the Royal Irish, Mr Ladd was given the honour of unveiling the hatchment of his old regiment, oainted by the lat» Archdeacon Walsh, and placed in St. Mary's Church.

The Oamaru Mail announces the death, at the use of 31 years, of Mr Henrv Richmond. librarian of the Athonssum for the last 36 years. The late Mr Richmond cam« out from tho Old Country to Au<>tmlin at the time of the grold fever in 1854. Before leaving the Old Land he went through many of the thrilling , scenes of the Crimea campaign in the eupply department. Mr Rich-

mond was brought up to a mercantile life. and arrived m Wellington on November 14, 1857, by the ship John M'Vicar, \fter a year m Canterbury he travelled overland to Oamaru for the Lindis "rush," which took place in 1859. On the outbreak of Gabriel s Gull? he was attracted further *? d was f or seven years on the Otago goldhelds, where Richmond hill beare has name. He afterwards returned to Oamaru and acted as an accountant in various dranerv houses till he became librarian of the Athenaeum in 1877. Mr Richmond wae one of the four oldest members of Court PnVe of Oamaru, Ancient Order of Foresters, and acted as secretary for seven years He wae married in 1868 to a daughter of Mr Edward Allcock, of Leamington. Some three years ago he gave up his active duties as librarian but was still employed by the Athenasum as general supervisor and adviser, and in those capacities continued to the last to fulfil hie duties, being present with valuable counsel at njl meetings. The deaths are reported of two wellknown and respected residents of Takaka district (says the Nelson Mail), in the perfions of Mr P. Hunter, of Long Plain, who arrived in Nelson in the «hip Thomas Harrison in 1842; and of Mr R. Soper, of Puramahoi, who was accidentally drowned in a creek on his property on Wednesday week. It is surmised that deceased was overcome by a stroke, and fell into the creek. He arrived in New Zealand in 1852.

Mr John Campbell, of Green Island, -who died on May 23, m his seventy-sixth year, was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and apprenticed to the drapery trade. In 1860 he came to Melbourne in the ship Lightning. A year later he arrived at Port Chalmers ,and after three months with Mr .John Mollison m. Dunedin he commenced business ae a general storekeeper in Green Island. For 54 years he remained steadily at work in the same district. He was postmaster for the district, amt after nearly 50 years of faithful service he gave up his duties, the Government .granting him a bonus in recognition of hie work. Mr Campbell's largeness of heart and generous sympathy gave him an influence for good which' was felt throughout the district.