OBITUARY RECORD.

Otago Witness, Volume 14, Issue 2648, 14 December 1904, Page 13

OBITUARY RECORD.

Widespread regret has been expressed at the death of Mr John Robertson, who for 40 years wis factor to the Dukes of Atholl. He died' on Sept-ember 18,^,aged 77 years. Mr Robertson began life as a civil engineer, ■and among other works constructed the Highland railway from Dunkeld to the border of Inverness-shire. He - encountered .and overcame the strenuous opposition of the late Duke of Atholl, who was so much impressed by the qualities Jie displayed that he, offered him the pest of factor on his extensive estates. Mr Robertson accepted the offer, . and by his able management of the property amply vindicated the soundness of • t2ie Duke^s judgment. He rendered valuable public service in a variety of ways, and in private' life was much esteemed and 1 ibeloved. ~" ■ The Rev. Dr A. B. Connel, ministeremeritus _of ,Lochee (Dundee) "West TLF. .Church, to whi<jK he wentMri 1E67, died on .September 17; aged 64. During his ministry a new church and -manse were built at a east of £12,000. He was a member of . "the Dundee School .Board for over 20 years. In 1890 fie receive^ the honorary degree of D.D. from the University of St. Andrews. Dr Connel was a great traveller, and his •tours included, a visit 'to Australia and New Zealand. For several y-ears, however, he had- been laid aside by. weak, health. His wife predeceased him' by about a fortnight 'only.

The Rev. Wm. Dobie, parish minister of Ladykirk, Berwickshire, 'died on September 26; aged 52. He was a. remarkable man, who raised himself from a humble position, and did yeoman service throughout a prolonged career. In early life he was classical master successively at' the Madras J College (St. Andrews) and at Cupar ! Aoajdemy. , In 1£53 he became pastor of a struggling congregation at North Esk, Mus'selburgh, and succeeded in putting it into an enduring position of prosperity. At ■ Ladykirk he did good wo*k for a great many years, and in the General Assembly he was always listened to -with much respect. He is survived by his second wife. , ! At Kilte&rn, Perthshire, there has just died- Mrs Janet Paul; aped 101. She was born at Kilmarnock, but lived nearly all her life at Eillearn. She has left four children, 23 grandchildren and 25 great-grand-children. f •Mr Thomas. Walker, a prominent man in the - fishing industry ' of Aberdeen, died on September' 18 ; aged 56. He began life as a line-fisherman, but made a fortune by taking up beam-trawling and ice-making. He was also a leading member of the Aberdeen Harbour Board.

Mr William Lawson, builder, Lockerbie, a J.P. and county councillor, died suddenly while sitting reading a^ newspaper. Dr Mason, a much-esteemed medical man at Langholm, died of heart disease while resting on a sofa. Mr "James Sheriff, an architectural ' sculptor in Glasgow, was found hanging by a rope round his neck in his studio. The rope was cut at once, but he was quite dead. ~ *

Dr A. T. Stewart, Senior Chief Inspector of Schools in' Scotland and Inspector of Training Colleges, died at Edinburgh on September 26.- He had a distinguished career. He received the honorary degree of LL.D. from the University of Aberdeen -in 1890.