DEATH OF MR JAMES ALLAN, OP. HOPEHILL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1950, 9 July 1891, Page 13

DEATH OF MR JAMES ALLAN, OP. HOPEHILL.

The death of another pioneer settler has to be recorded— Mr James Allan, of Hopehill, Taieri, having died at his residence on Sunday morning at the comparatively early age of 67. Ifc is but a few months ago since we recorded the death of his aged mother ; so that the news published by us yesterday morning of Mr Allan's death came quite as a surprise to his many friends. Mr James Allan came to New Zealand as a young man of 24, arriving in Nelsonwith his father and other members of the family in 1842. Some six years later the family removed to Ofcago, and the deceased commenced business in Danedin in partnership with Mr James Smith, now of Greenfield, as storekeepers and bakers, the site selected being that now known as Hardies corner, but long famous as Bullen s corner. At that time the population was limited, and most of the settlers about Danedin were content with home-made bread. The partners, herefore, finding that there was but limited scope for their ..energy, disposed of the business and tamed their attention to agricultural and pastoral pursuits, and Borne 13,000 acres of land in the Tokomairiro district were leased. The advancing tide of settlement soon deprived the partners of most of their run. Meantime Mr Allan purchased for himself the freehold of some land at Bast Taieri, where the otbefcrnembars of his family had settled. Here he took up his residence with his young and growiog family, and heie he remained up to the time of his death. The freehold was added to from time to time until a few years ago the area was 5000 acres. Mr Allan's success as a farmer and breeder of stock was considerable, and his reputation was gained after many a keen contest in the show ring. Of late years he met with some reverses, but it cannot be said that these were due to any want of knowledge or painstaking effort on his part. Mr Allan always took considerable interest m public affairs, aud took his full share of duties which fall to the lot of public-spirited and eaergetic colonists. In 1870 he was elected, unopposed, for a vacancy in the representation of the Taieri in the Provincial Council, and continued with Mr Donald Reid and the late Mr James Shand to represent the district until the abolition of provinces. He .vas then elected a member of the Taieri County Council, and sat for several years. He took an active part in road board and school matters, and in every way assish-d in evry * public moremtut for the advancement of the district. The respect in which he was held by his' fellow se.ttlers is abundantly shown by the fact cf bu being elected by them to the many public positions which he htld. He was esteemed by all who knew him as a man of sterling worth, ever ready, when a ked, to give advice or assistance. He leaves a widow aud six sous aud four daughters, aJI grown up.

Mr J. G. Ward has been granted permission by the Campbslltown (Bluff) Borough Council to erect bone mills in the municipality. The corporation will also take steps to rescind the bye-lawa in relation to slaughtering cattle within the borough, the object being to grai.t permission to Mr Ward to e recfc moat freezing works afc the port, for which he has made application.