OBITUARY,

Otago Witness, Issue 2168, 12 September 1895, Page 17

OBITUARY,

Mr John M'l'arlace, father of the well-kcown members of tbe firm of A and J. M'Ftrlaue, died at the resilience of his son in C*uongate street on Monday, having attained the age of 84 yerrs. He w»s born at Cro=6mill, 13 >r Head, Renfrewshire, Scotland, in January 1811, aud wan the youngest of a fairly numerous family. He was trained to tbe butiuesa ot calico printing, (.hen jtmong the mo«t flourishing in the Wt-st of Scotland. Leaving his native town ho spent some time in Ru'herglen, but returned to Renfrew, where he became a partner in tho firm of Thomson, Ewing, and Co., one of the firm being brother-in-law to the late Mr James Sshton, of the Peninsula. Prcbably the faot of his fcldent brother having (migrated to Arnetica had something to do with his decision to ernigrito. With his family he a 1 rived in Orago by the ship Aboukir, from Glasgow, on the Bth of November 1882. and with bin sons, who had baen trained to the buaineia, entered into business as provision merchants and grocers. The enterprise displayed by the firm is too well known to require mention. The old gentleman from choice devotfd his attention to the delivery department, aud his faco and form were well known in Dunedin and suburbs, and often attraoted the attention of visitors. Ol a retiring disposition, he had no tabte for public life. Though often vr b ed he always declined to become an office-bearer in Knox Chu-ch. He has alwayß been an esteemed member, and between the late Dr Stua.it and himself there were frequent conferences and weekly visits. For the past four years Mr M'Farlana has been compelled to give up attending to business, and for the pait eight months he has betn completely prostrated. Quiet and unostentatious in his demoai.our, straightforward and upright in everything, he was admired aud respected by all who knew him.