OBITUARY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21978, 13 June 1933, Page 9

OBITUARY

MR E. HODGKINSOItf

The death of Mr Edmund Hodgkinson at the residence of his son Harold at Hawea Plat on Thursday last removes a very old colonist from active life. Though he had reached the ■ age of 91 years he enjoyed excellent health until three days before he passed away. He was the second son of Mr Germain Hodgkinson, who arrived in New JSealand jn 1842 by the Thomas Harrison, settling at Wakefield, Nelson. His son Edmund was one of a large family, having had five brothers and five sisters. He joined his brother, then a runholder in partnership with Mr M‘Murdo < at Benmove, in April, 1857,- being then 14 years rf age. For a few years after his arrival at Benmore he attended school at East

Taieri when Mr Hislop (later Dr Hislop) was headmaster. Dr Hislop became inspector of schools, and he then transferred to Halfway Bush School conducted by Mr Johnston. After six months' additional schooling he returned to Benmore. Mr M'Murdo having met his death through a kick from a horse, the Benmore run was sold to Mr R. Campbell, of Otekaike. With his brother Mr Hodgkinson acquired Lake Ohan Station, then a very rough place with no access by road, everything having to be transported across the lake. Mr Hodgkinson was, however, a typical pioneer and met and overcame the obstacles of the times as they arose. The death of his partner brother was a severe reverse, though he carried on the station with his brother’s widow until 1874, ultimately selling his interest to Mr D. Sutherland. He then left the Waitaki district, and settled in Dunedin for a short time. 1 While residing in the city he met and married a daughter of Mr Henry Yeend in ,1875. His next pastoral venture was Black Forrest Station, Mr D. Sutherland being his partner. This was carried on for a few years and he then acquired Longslip Station from Mr T. C. Hill. In this Upper Waitaki venture Mr Hodgkinson met some rather formidable difficulties, the influx of rabbits, severe winters, and the law price of wool combining to bring about disaster. He was left with the run and a large family, but haying no stock the run was surrendered. He struggled on, however, with the freehold and later obtained a portion of the run. With the help of his two eldest sons he persevered, running some cattle on the property. The sudden death of S his wife while' she wason a short visit to Christchurch was a staggering blow, and Longslip was sold to Mr H. E. Cameron, Mr Hodgkinson, leaving Upper Waitaki after many years' of adventurous life. He then made his homo with his second daughter, Mrs A. M'Goun, of Anderson’s Bay. Some years later he went to Hawea, where he lived with his eldest son Harold until the time of his death. Wherever he was located during his -long life Mr Hodgkinson vfas widely respected. He leaves a family of two sons (Harold and Conrad) and three daughters (Mrs H, E. Cameron, of Ben Avon Station, formerly Longslip; Mrs M'Goun, Anderson’s Bay; and Mrs A. Fraser, Kurow). The funeral took place at Kurow on Saturday last. MR SAMUEL DALRYMPLE The death of Mr Samuel Dalrymple, former inspector of machinery in Dunedin and well known in maritime circles because of his association as chief engineer with many Union Company steamers, occurred at his residence, Epsom, xVuckland, last week. *Mr Dalrymple was believed to be the last survivor of the crew of the Taiaroa, which was wrecked north of Kaikoura, with the loss of 33 lives, 47 years ago. Born in Moumouthshire, England, he was the eldest son of Mr Robert Dalrymple, of Balcray, AVhithorn, Scotland, He served an indentured apprenticeship with Messrs Smith Brothers and Co., engineers and boilermakers, of Glasgow, and later decided on a sea-going career and was at different times engaged in the Mediterranean, Black Sea, Baltic and Eastern trades. Coming to New Zealand, he otir tered the service of the Union Company, and was successively chief engineer of the following vessels of that fleet:—Taiaroa, Mawhara, Taieri, Rotorua, Wakatipa, Tekapo, Flora, Te Anau, Liddesdale, Rotomahana, Talune and Mararoa. The period of that service was 11$ years. Having passed the New Zealand Marine Board examination as a first-class engineer in the Merchant Service, Mr Dalrymple later passed the Board of Trade examination, first-class, in England. Leaving the sea, he joined the Government Inspection of Machinery Department, being successively stationed at Dunedin, Auckland and Wanganui. In 1909 he succeeded Mr H. Wetherilt as senior inspector of machinery, senior surveyor of ships and senior examiner of engineers in Auckland, positions he held for 14 years until his retirement in 1923.