OBITUARY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18687, 17 October 1922, Page 8

OBITUARY.

MR WESLEY TEUTON, QUEENSTOWN. The death took place at Queenstown late on Saturday attenioon of Mr Wesley Purlon. solicitor, who has practised law in Wakatipu for over 60 years. Eor the past 12 mouths deceased’s health had been failing, but with the pluck, the grit, and the tenacity of the early pioneers he remained in harness practically till the last, when he succumbed to heart trouble. Mr Turton was a son of the late Rev. Henry 'Hanson Turlon, one of the early missionaries who afterwards entered the miblic service, became President Magistrate and Warden of the Coromandel goldfields for several years, and subsequently represented Taranaki in the General Assembly. Mr Turton, who was bora in the dominion, was 75 years of age. He came to Queenstown in, 1870, just as he finished his law studies, and ‘ commenced' practice, which proved conspicuously successful and which possibly constitutes a dominion record for unbroken continuity over so long a period in one place. I 1 or a tune Mr 1 urton hail a branch at Cromwell Deceased was a particularly well-informed man and in him lay the genius of extensive knowledge. Ho had a remarkable memory, and was a veritable cncyclopffidia on the general as well as intimate history of the district. Air a raconteur he had few equals, being richly endowed with a subtle humour which gave piquancy as well as point to the abundant store of anecdotes which be wove about many actual early-day happenings. His profession precluded his taking up any public or civic positions, but he nevertheless took the keenest interest in the affairs of the town and the welfare of the district. Mr Turton was very charitably disposed, though discriminating in his benefactions. Ho has a specially warm place in his heart for children. Mr Turton was married in Queensto.wn a few years after he settled here, and there wore six children of the union. Only one of the three sons, Mr Richmond Hanson Turton, solicitor, Grey town, is now alive, the eldest, Gerald, having died many years ago in the Phillipine Islands, and the youngest, Douglas Kirk, dying some'.ls months ago at Havelock North. The daughters are Mrs Nornlan Halcombe (who resides with her mother at New Plymouth), Mrs Geoffrey Eaton Turner (lately resident in the Andes, South America, but now living in England), and Mrs Lewis DeveriishMaeres, whose home is in Ireland. Mr Hanson Turton, formerly District Lands Registrar of Deeds at Dunedin, was a brother of Mr Turton, as were also Messrs Gibson and Kjrk Turton.