OBITUARY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19498, 5 June 1925, Page 10

OBITUARY.

AIR COLEMAN PHILLIPS. (faou Ode own Goebespokdent.) WELLINGTON, Juno 4. The death is announced ol Mr Coleman Phillips, an old VVairarapa settler, in ms sevoiuy-oigtitti year. Ho landed at Auckland 01 years ago. ale joined the And vv aikato Regiment, and lought in the Maori war He was a man tortile in suggestions in connection with tno i’ucilic island trade, railway routes, and. otnor matters. He had a varied career in New /.calami, from soldier to settler, and he was in turn parser and master of a ship. In 18(2, alter n trip to 1 ij*, ho arranged a loan oi ±.40,01)0 to King Thakambau to enable the king to consolidate hia power over the group, and hand over the islands to the British Crown, in 1875 lie induced the Auckland merchants to subscribe ±LO,OOo to purchase a vessel for the Island trade, lie took down cattle and sheep to Samoa. Mr Phillips proposed a Polynesian scheme of annexation in 1073, and lent every assistance to the annexation of Fiji in 1874. in the same year ho established tlie Auckland and Fiji’Banking Company, wiiioh was incorporated by the Bunk ot Now Zealand. Ho took to the Islands the first steamer —the Star of the South. In 1874 Mr Phillips pased his legal examinations and was admitted as a barrister of the Supremo Court. While ou a visit to England in 1875 Mr Phillips was asked to accept the position of British Consul at Samoa, but declined it. In the Wairarapa ho took an active interest in local affairs, and was always enterprising. Ho shipped the first lot ot frozen sheep per the Lady Jocelyn from Wellington to London in 1883. He imported Holstein cattle to New Zealand in 1857, and constructed the first public water race in the North Island, on the Maroa Plains, in 1894. He was subsequently associated in the issue of the Romney Marsh Flock Book. Amongst, his other enterprises Mr Phillips packed apples for export in 1888. In 1880 Mr Phillips proposed the establishment of the capital of Now Zealand in the Moroa Plains. This suggestion was made with the view "partly of relieving the congestion of Wellington. Twice he tried to get into Parliament as an Independent, but failed.