WETHERSTONCS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2647, 7 December 1904, Page 35

WETHERSTONCS.

Obituary. — Another very old resident of Lawrenoe has passed away to the Great Unknown. Many of the old' residents of the Tuapeka. district -will be sorry to hear of the death of Mr j MicHael O'G-orman, who diedi at his residence, j lia-wrence, on .November 30, aged 76 years. Up to the latter part of 1864 or the beginning of '65, the Otago Provincial Government had apost office in Wetherstones, which was under the charge of Postmaster Falck. In one of the years mentioned .Mr Fadck was transferred to Queenstown, And the post office, which consisted of office and dwelling house, about 12ft by 20ft, was closed and sold. This the late Mr O'Gorman purchased, and worked in it at his trade of Jailor. A year or two-later, whan the Wnite Star Hotel was sold, Mr O'Gorman was the purchaser. "He iet the hotel for a short times, hotel-keeping not being in his line; but he had'to run it awhile through having no tenant. About that time we were- in the throes of an ' election for superintendent of Otago, tha candidates being Messrs Thos. Dick, and Jas. Maeanarew. 'An agitation for a school for Wetherstones was got tip, and a deputation formed, to interview the candidates as they , came forward. They were both surprised when Eney were informed that there were about 120 •■ children in Wetherstones, and that there were 'over- 60 or 70 of school age. They both .promised a school if elected and a site could be got. ,It may be mentioned that 'there was a small private school kept by Mrs Boase up to that time. A school committee was elected, and Mir M. O'Gorinan caru-e forward and offered the committee the White Star Hotel for £100, an offer which was accepted. Most of the money was contributed by the inhabitants of "Wetherstones, supplemented. by the Provincial Government. A teacher was appointed. Mr T. Johnston ...(who has taken holy orders since). A sewing mistress to assist him was also secured, the fir&t two to fill the position being Mrs Mari'iot and Mrs N&lson. When a schoolmistress was appointed under the provincial regulations, the appointment was conferred on Miss Jane Fowler, who is at present head school mistress in the Lawrence High School. Some time afterwards Mr O'Gorni'an bought a section in Lawrence, where he built himself a workship and residence, commencing business there. He worked at his trade of tailoring up' to a short time before his death, when he was confined to his bed. He was a quiet and inoffensive man, and strictly temperate, never touching either beer or spirits, although he had no objection to going into a hotel and "shouting" for~ti. customer or an acquaintance. The only occasion on which he spoke strongly in public was at election time, when he was often both bitter and sarcastic in dealing with his opponents. He was a very strong supporter of the late Mr J. O. Brown.