OBITUARY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2263, 15 July 1897, Page 45

OBITUARY.

James Patrick ; Aged 85, Years. In tha scroll of the old identities who arrived by the Philip Laing on the 15th April, 1848, will be found the names of James Patrick, wife, and three children, the eldest hardly six years old. What could induce a man from amid city life in Glasgow to venture on an experiment every element of which was foreign to his upbringing would puzzle our wisest colonists to explain. It was simply the principle of selfreliance and an indomitable resolve to succeed. Mr Patrick was born at Hamilton, Lanarkshire, Scotland, on the 15th December, 1811. He was hardly of age to be embaed with the warlike spirit of the time, when the name of ' • Boney " was on everyone's lipa and caused a heart-throb not felt in these days of security. So after getting pretty well indoctrinated with the three R.s in the parish school, fortune favoured him by entering him as an apprentice to the weaving trade, then of first-class importance. He pegged away at this shuttle-moving trade for a subsequent 10 years in Glasgow. Highar aspirations filled his Eonl, and rather than plod on in this wearisome routine, in close air and impure surroundings, he resolved to seek fresh fields for labour of any sort, of which he was ia no ways ashamed. The Otigo Association scheme of settlement gave him the opportunity, so, embracing it, ho took ship by the Philip Laing from Greenock on November 27, 1847, along with his wife and bairns, and all arrived safely on April 15, 1848. Now, what was a haudloom weaver to do in subduing a forest or breaking up virgin soil with the rudest of implements P Mr Patrick, accepting the motto of " Whenfchere is a will there is a way," threw the idea of tbe shuttle and treadl.', to the winds and took to the spade and mattock It need not be expected that in the first effort at a, new trade the cut waR deep or the stroke very heavy, yet in the stiffisb. soil of H*lf way Bush the weaver left the impress of his might. Naturally these old fogies who had not very much gold in their purses mated together to serve ex pediency as much as possible. So a jolly four of thorn — viz., John Barr, James Marshall, John Gillies, and James Patrick — squatted on the BeH ab Little Paisley, near the Southern Cemetery. There was a dispute, however, as to the name, one-half preferring Mavis Bank, and being equally divided and having no person to appoint as umpire it was agreed to refer the decision to posterity. At this time a signal change was to take place iv Mr Patrick's destiny. At Home he had successfully mastered the mysteries of weaving the waft and the woof so as to make the web. Something le*s intricate he was now to attempt — to mix clay and sand and bake a brick, which he did accomplish, and the chimneys in Captain Cargill's old residence at Hillside are to this day a record of the skill he displayed in his new art. Fortune was smiling on him & bit, acd iv 1858 he was able to purchase — some of itfecond-hand —50 acres of land at Tomahawk at 10s an acre, and on this spot he has resided for nearly 40 years, proving himself a patient, laborious worker, not limited by hours — at it late and early. There is nothing worth materially noting in Mr Patrick's career so fs»r as public affairs go. He took a fair share in local matters, and was an elder o' the kirk. On none of these did he presume. Ou the contrary, the qniet humour of the man was conspicuous. A lady friend calling to ses him one day on "spiritual affairs," on her leaving his remark was "ths breezs will blow awa' a' the bid odour abootthe steadinV She arrived home in fearful wrath, aad commanded her husband to examine if any filth was about her petticoats, not appreciating the sly wit. Among the Peninsula residents, counting back for many years, not one can pat ia a

superior claim to Mr Patrick. Enemies he had none, and never provoked any. His old friends who have gone before him were sincere and to be valued, andin the Happy Land Charles Smaill will await him along with King, HeudersoD, and a few more. Mrs Patrick herself, who paved the way 11 years ago, will be first there. Mr Patrick does not leave groat wealth behind him — or any wealth at all — except the wee bit " gtun' " at Tomahawk. The inheritance he bequeaths to his family ia an unblemished reputation — more than money can purchase. For a period of over fourscore years he has lived, and during that time his sincere and ucdiguised actions showed him a man of thorough probity and honour. I. M. I. Mr John Smith. The late Mr John Smith, clerk of the Waikouaiti County Council, who died at his residence in Upper Cargill street, Dunedin. on Friday last, was born inGrantowu, Scotland, iv 1836. He arrived in Victoria late in the fifties, aad came over to Obago at the time of the Dunstan rush, making his way to the goidfield with the crowd. His stay there was not a long one, and returning to Waikouaiti, which was the general landing quarter in the early days, he commenced his trade as watchmaker and jeweller. He remained at this business until the county council system was inaugurated in 1877, when he was appointed the first clerk for Waikouaiti County — a position he continued t*> hold up to the time of his death. He had also held other public positions. In tbe early part of his residence at Waikouaiti he wos a member of the Provincial Council, and on four consecutive occasions he was elected as the mayor of the borough of Hawksbury. For a quarter of a ceatury he was the secretary of the Presbyterian church at Waikouaiti, and for many years superintendent of the Sunday school. He was also an elder of the chuic'a. He was registrar of electors and returning officer for the present Chalmers electorate, and for some years he filled the same offices in electorates under different names embracing Hawksbury. As a man, the late Mr Smith was greatly respected for his sterling and upright qualities, and his many friends sincerely regret his demise. His advice on diverse matters was eagerly sought by residents of Waikouaiti, and the counsel he was well able to give was freely bestowed. The funeral, which took place on Thursday, was largely attended, among the following being a number of psople from Waikouaiti. The chairman and members of tha Waikouaiti County Council acted as pallbearers.