OBITUARY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23945, 21 October 1939, Page 12

OBITUARY

MR WILLIAM WILLIAMSON Mr William Williamson, who died in Dunedin recently, in his eighty-seventh year, was a well-known and much-re-spected resident of Waitati, where he had resided for a number of years. He was born at Walls in the Shetland Islands, and as a young man came to Otago, along with his parents, in the ship Nelson in 1874. For a short time he worked for Mr Alex. Smith, of Taieri Plains, but soon decided to rejoin his father and other members of the family, who had settled at Goodwood, near Waikouaiti. The DunedinChristchurch railway line was being formed at the time and Mr Williamson was employed on this work for several years. In 1832 he married Miss Mary Hyslop, of Waitati, and having secured a bush section at Ratanui in the Gatlins district, the young couple decided to make their home there. They suffered all the hardships and privations inseparable from the life of the backblock bush settlers of those early days, when there were no roads or only very bad 'ones. In 1916 they sold their farm to one of their sons and removed to Waitati, where they had resided ever since. Mr Williamson was of a genial, kindly and obliging disposition and was always ready to help any cause for the good or welfare of the people amongst whom he lived. He was keenly interested in the Otago Early Settlers’ Association, and with Mrs Williamson was always present at the anniversary reunions in March. He took a warm personal interest in the local churches, and was an elder for many years. He is survived by his wife, two sons and five daughters, 32 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. CAPTAIN J. ROBERTSON The death occurred in Queenstown yesterday of Captain John Robertson, better known to the travelling public as Captain “Jack” Robertson, of the lake steamers on Lakes Wakatipu and Te Anau He was connected with shipping at Queenstown for a great number of years, entering the service of the old Lake Wakatipu Steam Shipping Company as a clerk. From there he went out on the steamers as a seaman, and later he qualified for a captain’s certificate. He served the company until its absorption by the Government in 1902. after which date he continued as master of various shins in the Lake Wakatipu service. Eight or 10 years ago he was transferred to the command of Government vessels on Lake Te Anau Captain Robertson was a single man the second son of the late Mr James William Robertson. He is survived by two brothers, Messrs J. W. Robertson (Queenstown) and A. Robertson (Christchurch), and a sister. Mrs T. J. Wilson (Queenstown),