OBITUARY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2649, 21 December 1904, Page 65

OBITUARY.

Mr W. J. Cain, one of the earliest settlers in the Upper "Waitaki district, died on the 12th. Brought tip to a seafaring life, he made his way to the Upper Waitaki district while still a young man, and at a time when there were 110 bridges and only rough tracks for roads. In conjunction with the late Mr Christian Hille, he established a ferry service above Kurow, and continued to work it until a bridge was erected, when he removed further up the river and established another ferry. Having made a competence, he retired to some land he had acquired. He was brimful of sea yarns, and was one of the most genial of men.

Tho Winton Record reports the death of Mrs Gerrard, a very old resident of Otago. The deceased lady and her husband, the late Mr Alexander Gerrard (who died about 14- years ago) were Aberdeenshire people. The worthy couple came from Scotland in 1857, landing at Dunedin, and for some years Mr Gerrard was a farmer and breeder in the Taieri district. He removed his household to Winton about 1565, and secured one of the largest blocks of good land in that district. Mrs Gerrard, who was greatly respected by all who knew her. is survived by a family of sons and daughters. A very old resident of the Naseby district named William Hayes, better known as "Happy Billy," died at the hospital last Friday morning. He was 81 years of age, and had been in the colony 44 years. Mr W. B. Clarkson, J.P., of Riccarton, well known throughout New Zealand as one of the largest and most successful stock dealers, died on Friday last, after an illness extending over some y^ars. He was born in the town of Yorkshire, in

• and came to New Zealand in 1£69. in the ship Hydaspes. Having settled in Christchurch. he commenced dealing operations in 1875, and gradually extended his business. Recently he has passed over half a million of sheep through his hands every year, and in one year 317,000 of his sheep were killed at the Islington freezing works. As an instance of the scope of his transactions, it may be mentioned that he once bought a line of 22,000 sheep in one deal from Mr G. H. Moore, of Glenmark. Although the bulk of Mr Clarkson's businesswas done in Canterbury, he bought sheep in all parts of New Zealand. Since the formation of the Christcliuroh M&at Company, Mr CJarkson was under a contract with it for a supply of sheep for the freezing industry. A few years ago Mr Clarkson was appointed a justice of the peace. Several tames he was requested to take part in public affairs, but always declined on account of the business in which lie was engaged demanding all his time. Mr Clarkson married a daughter of the late Mr J. Caygill, and leaves a widow and a family of three sons and one daughter. Sister Mary Teresa, one of the Sisters of Mercy a.t the South Dunedin Convent, died on "Sunday night, after a short illness, having recently contracted pneumonia. Her name wag Mary Teresa Mahan, and she was born in County Meath, Ireland, her age being about 45 years. She came to Dunedin from the West Coast about seven yeais ago, and has since been engaged in the work of the orphanage at South Dunedui.

At a meeting- of the Oamaru Troopers' Memorial Committe* on Saturday, Mr John Crombie reported that he had now finished the contract, and formally handed it over to the committee. A sub-committee v.a% appointed to arrange- the programing in connection with t.ho unveiling ceremony. It wa* reported that there was a deficiency on the contract price of the monument of £150, in addition to which other expenses would bring up thp deficiency to £200. The hope was confidently expressed that this amount wotiM be raised with e«""» ~'_ day of the uaveiliagi