OBITUARY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20991, 2 April 1930, Page 9

OBITUARY.

MR WILLIAM RICHARD JEFFREYS. Mr William Richard Jeffreys, whose death occurred on March 21, was a son of the Rev. Charles Jeffreys, and, when 14 years of age, arrived at Port Chalmers with his parents and the rest of. the family in the ship Maori. Mr Jeffreys, sen., who was a brother of Mrs W. H. Valpy, resided in a house built upon the Valpys’ property at The Forbury, as it was then called, now known as St. Clair. Mr William Jeffreys spent some years living in the country, mostly in the Waitaki district. Mr William Valpy, jun. (his cousin), had a sheep run, the homestead of which stood on land on which Camara is situated. Owing to partial lameness, however, Mr Jeffreys, finding himself unequal to the exertions of a country life, availed himself of an offer of a position in the Union Bank of Australia, which had just opened an agency in Dunedin, under the management of Mr Jackson. This was the first bank opened in Dunedin, and Mr Jeffreys was probably the first Dunedinite to join its staff. This was in the year 1859, when he was about 21 years of age. Mr Jeffreys continued in the service of the bank until his retirement in the year 1893. Since that time he has lived a retired life at his home, Eignbrook, in Mornington.' He was fond of drawing, and had a decided gift in that direction, A fine picture of the landscape, as seen from the Forbury hills, and drawn by him, appeared in the Otago Witness some years ago. Mr Jeffreys took great interest in misispnary work and other religious activities, and in the study of prophecy and kindred subjects. He was a strong supporter of evangelical Christianity as against modern innovations and speculative tendencies.. Until the last year or two his memory was singularly retentive, and he could relate many interesting incidents connected with the early history of Otago. When he joined the staff of the Union Bank its office was situated, with some other buildings, on a high bank overlooking Princes.street, which was then hardly more than a road, about where Wain’s Hotel now stands. During the last few years Mr Jcffreys’s health and strength had gradually failed, and he passed away quietly 14 days after his ninety-second birthday. MB ALEXANDER YOUNGSON. 'M.ji r posed away on Saturday afternoon an ex-resident of Otago in the person of Mr Alexander Youngson, of Eastbourne road, Remuera, Auckland. The deceased, who was 64 years of age, was the second son of Mr and Mrs A. Youngson, who arrived in New Zealand by the ship Jura. With Ids parents he was for some years engaged in farming in the Warepa and Clinton districts, but over 30 years ago he left Otago for the North Island, where he started a business as a pastrycook. He was married to Miss Robertson, of Hastings, who survives him. He leaves a family of one son and two daughters—Sir Sangster Youngson (Junee, Australia), Mrs F. Carr, and Miss Natty Youngson (Auckland). One lirotiier of the deceased* Mr George Youngson, died six years ago, and other, Mr Janies Youngson, is a resident of Dunedin. , MRS HUGH MACDONALD. (Special to Daily Times.) INVERCARGILL, April 1. The nows of the death of Mrs Hugh Macdonald, who passed away at her residence, Gala street, early yesterday morning, will be received with regret throughout Otago and Southland. She was born near Edinburgh in 1852, and at the age of four came out to New Zealand with her, parents in the ship Strathmore, which arrived at Port Chalmers on October 2, 1856. Her father, Dr John Hislop, had received an appointment with the Provincial Government of Otago, which in 1855 authorised its Home agents to engage several competent teachers for the public schools which were about to be established in the province. On his arrival Dr Hislop was appointed to the newly-established school at East Taieri, and it was here that his.daughter received her earliest education and her first insight into the life of the young colony. For nearly five years Dr Hislop taught at East Taieri. Then, consequent upon the increase of population and the demand for new schools, U was deemed advisable to appoint an expert who could give his whole time to supervising and inspecting the schools, and to collecting statistical information. The expert chosen was Dr Hislop, who became in 1861 inspector of schools and secretary of the Education Board. He was also the first secretary and registrar of the University of Otago. When the Otago Girls* High School was opened Mrs Macdonald was among the first pupils to be enrolled. In 1874 sha was married to Dr Hugh Macdonald, of Lyttelton, the ceremony being performed by the late Dr Stuart in Knox Church. Dr and Mrs Macdonald lived in Lyttelton for 12 years, when she received a cruel blow through the untimely death of her husband. She was left with « family of eight children to bring ”p. Shortly after her husband’s death Mrs Macdonald removed to Dunedin, and in 1918 t she came to reside in Invercargill. She never forgot her varied and interesting experiences of the early days, and until last year made a point of attending the Otago early settlers’ reunion. Mrs Macdonald is survived by six daughters and two sons. They arc Mr R. D. Macdonald, manager of the National Banki Balclutha; Dr J. G. Macdonald, Invercargill; Miss Macdonald, matron of the Napier Public Hospital; Mrs Frier King, South Australia ; Mrs H. 0. Haggitt, Stewart Island; Mrs Gordon Macdonald, Federated Malay States; Mrs Ritchie Crawford, Invercargill; and Mrs Hugh Wchb, Karachi, India.