OBITUARY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20868, 7 November 1929, Page 9

OBITUARY.

MR JOHN WHITE,

By the death of Mr John White, who passed away at his residence, 480 King street, on Tuesday night, Dunedin has lost one of its oldest residents and one who was held in the highest esteem by a very large circle of friends. Mr White was born in Edinburgh in April, 1840, and received his education in his native city. He left Scotland with his parents in 1854, and arrived in Launceston (Tasmania) in 1855. A little later the family proceeded to Hobart, and eventually about 50 miles further south, where Mr White, sen., carried out a contract for the erection of a targe sawmill. When this was completed the family returned to Hobart, about 1859. In the following year Mr and Mrs White decided to come to New Zealand, and they were accompanied by their son John, while the younger members of the family remained in Hobart to continue their studies. The voyage to this country was made in the ship Tamar. The first contract undertaken by the father tyid son hero was to effect some repairs to the old Post Office, which was then situated in Jetty street. They then proceeded to the Glutha district.

to build a wool shed on a station, and while they were there they heard about the discovery of gold at Gabriel’s Gully. A man called “ Black Peter,” whose name was well known in connection with the early days of the diggings, was working on the station at the time, and he lost no time in making for the scene of the discovery. Mr White and his son completed their contract, and then followed “ Black Peter,” being in time to take part in the first rush. They , also worked on the Wctherstones field for a time.

The rest of the family came to Dunedin in 1862, and a home was built for them in King street. It is worthy of mention that that house is still standing. When the erection of the building was completed Mr John White went to the goldfields again, and took part in the Dunstan rush, subsequently carrying on mining at Conroy’s Gully and Arrowtown on the field known as Fox’s. He was keenly interested in mining for some years, and in 1865, when the discovery of gold on the West Coast was announced, he proceeded to that part of the country. He found his way to the Hokitika district, where he was engaged chiefly in prospecting, and where he had the pleasure, so dear to the heart of a miner, of discovering one of the “ leads ” of gold.

Mr White remained on the West Coast until ISO 9, in which year he returned to Dunedin, where he had his home for the remainder of his life. He then started in business as a building contractor, and carried on in that line until his retirement some 15 years ago. In his younger days he served for a short period as an architect’s apprentice, and the knowledge gained in that capacity stood him in good stead in later years, enabling him to act as his own architect in the numerous works undertaken by him. Like most others of the older generation, Mr White was never content with anything but thoroughness in his work. Ever since his return from the West Coast his residence was in King street.

Though Mr White was not an outstanding figure in the public life of the community he took a keen interest in the affairs of the city. As a member of the Union Street School Committee he rendered useful service for many years. He was also a prominent member of the Knights of Labour—a body that was well known many years ago—and he held the position of president of the organisation. He took a very active interest in the general election campaign in 1893, when he acted as chairman of the committee which worked in the interests of Messrs Pinkerton, Hutchison and Earnshaw, who contested the three seats in the Dunedin City electorate with, a successful issue.

'Apart from his business Mr White spent his happiest hours on the howling green, on which he made innumerable life-lung friends owing to his genial nature. He was a very old member of the Dunedin Bowling Club, of which he was a past president. His services to the club were appreciated to the extent that he was accorded the distinction of being awarded life honorary membership—all honour shared by only a few others. Besides being an enthusiastic player for many years he played a prominent part in developing the social side of the game, which has done a lot to bring the pastime to the state of popularity which it enjoys to-day. As a mark of respect to the memory of Mr White the flag on the pavilion on the Dunedin green was flown at halfmast yesterday.

Mr White enjoyed remarkably good health for practically the whole of his life, and until about a year ago, when advancing years began to take their toll on his system, he did not know from actual experience what an illness was. He was a fine example of the sturdy nature of the pioneers of the province. Right up till the last he retained all his faculties, and he had a remarkable memory of events that happened many years ago.

In ISG9 Mr White married Miss Bremner, a member of a pioneer family which came to Dunedin in 1858. He is survived by his widow and a family of five daughters—Mrs Milner (who lives on the Taieri). Mrs Dunlop (Dunedin), Mrs Yorston (Dunedin), and two others who live with their mother. He is also survived by a brother (Professor D. E. White) and a sister (Mrs Alexander Thomson).