OBITUARY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23686, 19 December 1938, Page 7

OBITUARY

MR T. C. HARRISON Mr Thomas Cornforth Harrison, whose death at an advanced age is recorded this morning was well known for many years as a teacher in the Otago education district, and held, for four years pridr to his retirement in 1907. the headmastership of the Wakari School. Mr Harrison was born in 1854 at Middlesbrough, Yorkshire, England, and when he was a year old his parents moved to Greenlaw, Berwickshire, Scotland, the birthplace of his mother. He was educated at the Free Church School in that town, and at the age of 15 years he was appointed a pupil teacher in the institution, where he served an apprenticeship of four years at a salary ranging between £l2 10s and £l7 10s per annum. He then entered the Training College at Edinburgh, but after 12 months there he was compelled to discontinue his studies on account of the retina of his right eye becoming affected. Two years later he completely lost the sight of this eye. At this time .there was a large number of immigrants leaving Scotland for New Zealand, and Mr Harrison, determined to try his fortune in the new country, sailed from Glasgow on the immigrant ship Invercargill in July, 1874. He landed in Dunedin in October of the same year with three sovereigns in his pocket. Having been practically reared on a farm, he had little difficulty in securing employment, and shortly after his arrival he was engaged as a shepherd on the Benmore run, Southland, at a salary of £6O per annum and a bonus of £lO each year if he gave satisfaction. Six months later he Was appointed clerk on a large farm belonging to the same owner as the run, but through a difference arising over the ethics of his appointment between the manager of the run and the manager of the farm the appointment was cancelled. Making his way tc Invercargill, young Harrison immediately began to cast about for work of some kind, and, hearing there were several large sawmilling operations about three miles out of the town, he set off with his swag on his back, and was successful in obtaining employment at the second mill at which he applied—that of Messrs Calder. Blacklock, and Co. Here, after wheeling sawdust from the saws for some time, he was promoted to stacking in the yard. His daily pay was 9s, but later, on a clerkship in the office becoming vacant, he was appointed to the position, and out of the £l4 he received for every four weeks, £lO was regularly despatched to his parents in the Homeland. When the mill was closed down about two years later, a temporary vacancy occurred on the staff of the Clifton School, about three miles out of Invercarglll, and Mr Harrison was appointed to the position. At that time the Otago and Southland education districts were under one board, the centre being in Dunedin. There were only two inspectors—Messrs Petrie and Taylor—who were sometimes assisted by the secretary, Mr (afterwards Dr) Hislop. There were two classes of schools — side and main—and the teachers of the side schools received £75 per annum and school fees, whilst the salary of those in charge of main schools was £IOO a year with school fees, residence, and glebe. On the conclusion of his term at Clifton, Mr Harrison was appointed teacher of the Wairuna School, and at the beginning of the following year (1878) he married a Miss Grant, of Invercargill. After teaching at Wairuna for five years he was appointed to a 1-rger school, the salary at which was £SO per annum more than he was then receiving. The committee of the Wairuna School, however, offered, if he would, stay on, to pay him an additional £35 a year subscribed by themselves, and to this he agreed. The nearest land surveyor was at Balclutha, 26 miles away, and Mr Harrison used to augment his income by carrying out surveys on Saturdays and other holidays. As a considerable amount of contract ploughing was being carried out among the runholders, he was kept fairly busy. Mr Harrison's next appointment was to Kakanui School, where he commenced teaching in September, 1885. This was a much larger school than Wairuna, artd s< successful was his mastership there that during the 18J years he had charge of the school he had an average of 97 per cent, of passes. Mr and Mrs Harrison were highly esteemed by the people of the district, and en the anniversary of their silver wedding in 1902 they were tendered ; social function, and were presented with a silver tea and coffee service. Another- tribute to Mr Harrison's popularity in the Kakanui district was the fact that during his stay there he was appointed trustee in no fewer than eight deceased estates. In 1903 Mr Harrison was appointed headmaster of the Wakari School, and on leaving Kakanui he was tendered an enthusiastic send-off, and was made the recipient of an illuminated address and many other valuable presents. He had been at Wakari for four years when an affection of the throat necessitated his retirement from the teaching profession.

Mr Harrison then took up his residence in Dunedin, where he interested himself in several undertakings. He was one of a syndicate which subdivided and sold the Balmacewen, Hazelhurst, and Sunshine estates, and in addition he had several other business interests. He was a close friend of Sir Thomas Mackenzie, for whom he acted as attorney' for 18 years. He was appointed a trustee of the Dunedin Savings Bank in 1911, and two years later he was made a justice o* the peace. In 1916 a dearth of school teachers occurred on account of so many of the younger men having enlisted, and at the request of the Education Board, Mr Harrison returned to teaching, and took up the post of first assistant at the Kensington School, which he held until the end of the war. Subsequently, he lived in comparative retirement, and in 1928 he and Mrs Harrison celebrated their golden wedding, when all the members and descendants of their family assembled to do them honour. He is survived by his widow, two daughters (Mrs Alexander Scott, Dunedin, and Mrs Richard English, Hamilton) and grand-children. The eldest son, Dr Thomas Harrison, who was a well-known medical man in Central Otago, was killed in a motor accident at Queenstown on April 30. 1930.

MR JOHN LOGAN

The passing of Mi John Logan, of Mosgiel. clerk of the Taieri County Council, will be regretted by a wide circle of friends. His death early on Saturday morning, in his seventyfourth year, was not unexpected, although he had been about his duties ft the county offices some days earlier Few men have been better known, esteemed and'respected, and his death will leave a blank in the community that it will be difficult to fill.

Mr Logan was burn at Kilbarchan. near Paisley. Scotland, in 1865, and his early life was spent in agricultural pursuits. About 1898 he left Glasgow for Capetown in charge of a shipment of horses, and spent some little time in that city. Then he continued on to New Zealand, and landed at Lyttelton. After a short stay in the Cheviol district Mr Logan journeyed to Dunedin and obtained a position with the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company. Ltd.. with which firm he was connected for two or three years. In 1903 he was appointed clerk to the Taier' County Council, and from that time he had piloted the council's affairs with the greatest ot care In 1927. at the County Council's jubilee he was presented with an illuminated address in recognition of his services. Mr Logan was intensely interested in the welfare of the agricultural industry, and was a familiar figure at agricultural shows, parades and social gatherings Outside his work for the county no activity attracted the deceased more than work for the Presbyterian Church. He was u staunch member o; the church for over 30 years, and a Christian gentleman who gave of his best, whether it was as session clerk, an office which he held for 20 years, as one of the Management Committee, or in any other way. His life was an example

to all around him particularly the vounger generation who sought an ideal to follow. For about 20 years of residence at Mosgiel Mr Logan took an active interest in the Mosgiel School. He was chairman, secretary and treasurer of the committee in turn throughout that long period, and many improvements to the school property were made during his term of office. Mr Logan rendered service to many institutions in Mosgiel. He was an active member in the Taieri Burns Club, secretary of the Municipal Band, auditor for the Taieri Agricultural Society and many like bodies. Mr Logan married Miss Prain, a daughter of Mr and Mrs George Prain, a well-known East Taieri family. His widow two sons and one daughter survive him. Both sons (Messrs John and Campbell Logan) reside in Christchurch, and the daughter (Mrs Lennon) is in Kampala. Uganda Ea?l Africa. At the mornins service at the Mosliiel Presbyterian Church yesterday the Rev Professor Collie, who was officiating in the absence of the Rev. Hugh Graham, made reference to Mr Logan's death, and the choir sang a favourite hvmn of the deceased, "When On My Day of Life the Night is Falling." The interment will take place at East Taieri this afternoon