OBITUARY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2412, 24 May 1900, Page 8

OBITUARY.

GISBORNE, May 15. Mr James Booth, stipendiary magistrate | for this district, died at his residence, Rose- , land, last evening after a brief illness. The ' deceased came to the colony in 1852 in | connection with the Church Missionary Society, and in 3856 settled down at Pipiriki, on the Wanganui River, where he engaged in teaching and pastoral pursuits. At the time of the Hauhau outbreak in 1864 he and his family were made prisoners, and for three days and nights were kept in [ constant fear ol being murdered : but their | lives were spared, and they escaped, losing , everything they possessed. Mr Booth sub- | sequently took' an active part in the warfare against the rebels, being given military i charge of the Upper Wanganui. When the friendly Natives were assailed afc Jerusalem and they ran short of ammunition, Mr Booth, with a Maori crew, paddled to Wanganui for fresh supplies, and thus saved the allies, services for which he was thanked by the Xative Minister. In 1865 he was appointed magistrate at Wanganui, and two years later was actively engaged in suppressing a Native rebellion in the Patea district, living in constant danger of being murdered. In 1883 he was transferred to Poverty Bay, where he gained the respect and esteem of the whole community. Mr_ Eyre-Kenny, the Wanganui magistrate, arrives to-morrow to take up the duties of magistrate temporarily. The Herald urges that Mr Barton, clerk of the court, a man fully qualified, and possessing the entire confidence of the community, should be appointed to the vacancy. Mr Henry Smithies, who died on the 15th at the residence of his daughter.Mrs Stephens, at Mornington, at the age of 89 years, was at one time a prominent figure in Dunedin. After his arrival in Dunedin in the earr" sixties, he was a clerk in the office of Messrs Howorth, Barton, and Howorth. He then decided to commence practice on his own account, and after the circumstances connected with his ceasing practice in England had been laid before tho judges he was admitted as a solicitor. He was very successful for some years. The circumstances connected with his retirement will no doubt be remembered by old residents of Dunedin. For many years he has lived in retirement with his daughter, though he took a keen interest in all public affairs, and was an occasional contributor to English magazines and the i^ress.

New Zealand's warm and lovely clime It not without its sudden changes, More noticed in the winter time, When hail and snow fall on the ranges. The wiud blows hard, and biting cold, And finds our weakest parts for sure, And gives us coughs, until we're told To take some Woods' Great Peppermint Cure.