OBITUARY

Otago Daily Times, Volume 25193, Issue 25193, 6 April 1943, Page 4

OBITUARY

MR WILLIAM PATERSON Known throughout Otago, and even further afield, as the “ father ” of tne Otago Early Settlers’ Association, Mr William Paterson, who for the past 27 years had been the association’s managing secretary, died yesterday morning. Mr Paterson, who was in his ninetieth year, was born in Edinburgh in 1854, and was one of the few surviving passengers of the ship Jura, from wnich, with his parents, he landed at Port Chalmers in 1858. The following year Mr Paterson senior commenced business as a baker and grocer at the corner of Walker and Princes streets, and during the next few years William Paterson attended Mrs Douglas’s private school in Princes street, and afterwards went to another private school conducted by the Misses Beck. The family moved to Port Molyneux in 1863, but returned temporarily to Dunedin, and for a short period Mr Paterson continued his education at the Caversham School. In 1864 Mr Pater-

son’s father purchased a block of land at Port Molyneux, and with his family went to reside there permanently, eventually opening up a store which was conducted by him and then by his brother, Mr Adam Paterson, until 1936. In later years, Mr William Paterson could recall that in the early days of Port Molyneux, it was a flourishing port from which all the produce from a radius of 30 miles was shipped, among the steamers which used to call there being the Geelong, the Taiaroa. the Wallace, the William Hoskins, as well as many smaller coastal vessels. Mr Paterson went to Puerua in 1874, and there commenced a general store. He carried on this business until 1913, when he retired and came to Dunedin. He was appointed secretary of the Early Settlers’. Association in 1915. His duties in this connection were a labour of love, and it was largely due to his enthusiasm and energy that the association attained the position in the life of the city and the province that it enjoys to-day. He had a wonderful memory for faces, names, and dates, and there were few members with whose family history he was not intimately acquainted. Mr Paterson married Isabella Begg, of “ The Glen.” Romahapa, and in June next would have celebrated his sijfty-second wedding anniversary. He was one of the foundation members of the Loyal Alexandra Lodge of Oddfellows. During his long and active association with the affairs of the early settlers, Mr Paterson had organised 28 anniversaries, and in the course of the years met many distinguished visitors from Home and abroad. Recently he had the honour of showing the Gov-ernor-General (Sir Cyril Newall) round the wonderful collection of relics of the early days housed in the association's buildings. The building up of this collection had been his life work. Mr Paterson is survived by his widow, two sons, and two daughters—Mr J. A. Paterson (Dunedin), Mr G. C. B. Paterson (Invercargill), Mrs W. F. Meek (Roslyn), and Mrs H. Scales (Masterton). The funeral is to take place this afternoon following a service in First Qhurch at 1.40. Yesterday the flag was flown at half-mast on the Early Settlers’ Hall.

At the monthly meeting of the Ses*ion and Deacons’ Court of First Church last night the Rev. W. Allen Stevely, chaplain to the Early Settlers’ Association, made reference to the death of Mr Paterson. He said that Mr Paterson would be remembered as the “grand old man” of the Early Settlers’ Association. He- was' beloved by all for his winsome personality and his monumental service in keeping green the memory of the”pioneers. He had died in the midst of his labour of love, and the warmest sympathy would be extended to Mrs Paterson and the family. MR J. S. THOMSON The death occurred on Sunday of Mr John Scott Thomson, who as a member of the firm of Messrs Thomsons. Ltd., merchants and cordial manufacturers, was a prominent figure in the business community of Dunedin. Mr Thomson, who was 60 years of age. resided all his life in Dunedin, and was well known in many spheres of activity, but particularly in botanical circles. In this latter connection he enjoyed world-wide recognition, and many of his books were published on the Continent. His interest in the flora of the Dominion was particularly keen, and he was looked on as one of the few experts on this subject in New Zealand. Mr Thomson was a Fellow of the Linnean Society of London and a Fellow of the Chemical Society (London). He delivered the Banks Lecture in Wellington in 1935, and in the following year was, with Mr G. Simpson, also of Dunedin, awarded the Loder Cup for his investigations into New Zealand’s flora. He was an honorary botanist on the staff of the Otago Museum and an honorary Fellow of the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture, and his list of publications in the journal of the latter institute and in the Transactions of the Royal and Linnean Societies is an imposing one. He also contributed largely to the New Zealand Alpine Journal, being a noted alpinist. He was a member of the Alpine Club. As a photographer of alpine scenery his work was as notable as his photography, illustrating varjous aspects of New Zealand mountain vegetation. A set of these latter photographs was especially selected by the New. Zealand Alpine Club as its parting gift to Lord Bledisloe. Mr Thomson’s'home in Wakan was a Mecca for all local and visiting botanists and for gardening enthusiasts. There-he had hundreds of native plants collected from all parts of the South Island and representing all altitudes. Noted botanists who visited his garden were Sir Arthur Hill (Director of Kew Gardens). Professor E. C. Jeffery (Harvard University). Dr J. P. Lotsy, »nd Dr and Mrs du Reitz. (Holland).

Regret at the death of Mr Thomson was expressed by the president of the Otago Rugby Football Union (Mr W. J. Pearson) at a meeting of the Management Committee last night. Mr Thomson was an old member -of the Pirates Football Club and an Otago representative player in 1907. It was decided to send a letter of sympathy to the relatives.