DEATH OF MR THOMAS BRACKEN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2295, 24 February 1898, Page 19

DEATH OF MR THOMAS BRACKEN.

Mr Thomas Bracken died in the Dunedin Hospital on the 16th from goitre, a trouble with, which he had been afflicted for some years. Within the laht fortnight he became an inmat« of the hospital, bub no change was noticed in his condition until a few days ago, when he began to sink, getting weaker. On Wednesday evening it was seen that the end was approaching, and &t a quarter to 10 he died peacefully in the presence of his ■wife, hi 6 young son, Mr A. Thomson, and Mr J. P. Armstrong. The deceased gentleman was born on December 21, 1843, in Ireland, and arrived in Victoria ab the sge of 12. "After experiencing," pays Mr Mennell in his " Australasian Bograpby," " the ups and downs of colonial hfe for several years Mr Bracken went to Otago in 1869, and connected himself shortly afterwards with journalism jd that province. He was connected with the Otago Guardian in the first year or two of its esmfceacis and subsequently founded a weekly pap^r called the Saturday Advertiser, which ha conducted with marked ability." Mr Bracken f on ceasing his connection with the Advertiser, left Dunedin, the occas : on being marked by a public presentation. He returned to Dunedin, and was connected for some years with the Morning Herald, which was subsequently the Evening Herald, until the property was sold. He paid a visit to Australia, where he was engaged in press work and ia lecturing, and it was during his residence on. the othtsr side that he wrote his beautiful poem "God's Owa Country," in which he pays a tribute of praise to New Zealand. On coming back to this colony he received an appointment as parliamentary reader, which he held for some yeara, and which he resigned on account of the development of the goitre which, as already mentioned, was the cause of his death, Oa leaving Wellington he once more took up his residence in Dunedin, and here hia friends again rallied round him and afforded him substantial help. During ihe la3t two years he joined the' Roman Catholic Church. Mr Bracken's parliamentary career was not % long one. In 1881 he was elected to represent Duuedin Central iv the House of .Representatives, securing 34-0 votei, while Mr C«n?ill polled 320, Mr Baitings 263, Mr DickFon 76, and Mr Graham 43. At the election of 1884 Mr Bracken lost his Beat, beiug defeated by Mr J. B. Brad«h*w, who polled 499 votes to Mr Bracken's 496. Mr Bracken entered Parliament again in October of 1886, having been re-elected for Dutsediu on Mr Brsdshaw's death. On that occasion Mr Bracken polled 501 vobes, Mr W. Hutchison 255, Mr C. R. Chapman 80, and Mr W. Darling 3. He did not offer himself *c a candidate at the general election of 1887. As a politician Mr Bracken was a staunch supporter of Liberal measures, but be was never »v bitter party man. When returning thanks for his election in Dp comber, 1881, he declared " that he was tied to no party, and that he would vote for no ciique. Ha would work for all classes — for justioe to a;l." He had many warm friends on both sides o£ the House, his genial m&nner endearing him not only to political ally, bub also to those who occupied seats on the opposite side of the Housa. In his nature there was a great deal of real Irish humour, and his famous exploit in the House, when he recited the poem " B?hs.ve Yourael' Afore Folk," will long be remembered in the history of the New Zealand Parliament. Among other comical productions which flowed from his pea were "^the sketches entitled "Paddy Murphy oa Lambton Kay," which he contributed to his paper •vtith much success. Ifc is his larger works, hovse-ver, tb.*l brought; fame to him. These included "Faddy Murphy's Budget," "Lavs of the Land of the Maori and Most," " Beyond the Tomb, and Other Poems," "Flowera o? the Freeland," " Pulpit Lectures," and " Musings in Maori Land." Mr Bracken was ennueoted ■with several of the friendly societies in Duutdin, in which h« took a deep intereßr, and for a number of years he was a. prcminent mem'noe of the Caledonian Society,, to whom more than one of his poems is dedicated. Ab indicatpd earlier in this notice, Mr Bracken is survived by hio wife and his son Charles (who is now about 12 yeaiu of age), for whom wide sympathy will be expressed in their s»d bereavement;. The funeral of the late Mr Thomas Bracken took place on the 18th in&t. Tlie remains were followed from the hospital to their last resting place in the Northern Cemetery by * number of leading citizens, amongst whora were Messrs A. Thomson, J. P. Armstrong, D. ft. White, R. Wilson, James M'lndoe, Jamci Watxop, H. J. Walter, W. lU'id, John M'lndoe. J. Listoa, S. G. Smith. J. R. Thornton, A. Burton, W. Hutchison, D. M'Niccol, D. H. Hastings, A. Sligo, M.H.R., W. A. W. Wathen, Rsv. Dr Waddell, aud the Hon. D. Pinkertou.