OBITUARY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24969, 16 July 1942, Page 4

OBITUARY

MR JOHN L. McG. WATSON

The death occurred at Invercargill on Tuesday of Mr J. L. McG. Watson, the oldest practising solicitor in Southland. Mr Watson, who was in his seventy-ninth year, had been ill for some weeks. He was very well .mown in Southland and Otago. He was born at Invercargill in 1864. at a time when the present city was a small settlement more or less surrounded by bush, and when good roads and footpaths were unknown. His father, Mr Thomas Watson, was for many years manager of the Bank of New Zealand at Invercargill. Mr Watson was educated at Invercargill and at the Otago Boys’ High School. As a young man he was articled to Mr T. M. Macdonald, of Invercargill, then Crown Prosecutor, and was admitted to the bar by Mr Justice Williams in 1888. The legal firm of McNab and Watson was founded in 1890. but six years later Mr Watson commenced carrying on the practice on his own account. At the time of his death he was in partnership with his son. Mr Watson took a keen interest in the development of Invercargill. He served as a member of the Board of Governors of the Southland, Boys’ and Girls’ High Schools, and for very many years was Chief of the St. Andrew's Scottish Society. He is survived by his widow, one daughter, and four sons.