OBITUARY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2664, 5 April 1905, Page 48

OBITUARY.

The .New Zealand Times reports the death ~of Mr William Harvey, sen., the patriarchal pioneer of Pelorus Sound, who passed away in Wellington at the advanced age of 91 years. It is believed that he was the first settler in. the Sounds district, and he was not infrequently referred to as "the pioneer of the Peloros." It was the custom of Mr and Mrs Harvey to occasionally visit Sydney, where they had friends, and it was while returning from such a trip on the Wimmera last week, when heavy weather was encountered, that the old couple were badly prostrated by seasickness. So ill were they .on arrival in Wellington on the 15th inst. that they had to be attended to by the health officer (Dr Pollen). Mr Harvey, already enfeebled with age, never recovered. Mrs Harvey, .who is somo 10 years her late husband's junior, was in a very low state when she left for Picton with the body of her husband on Tuesday. A painful sensation was caused on the 29th by the sudden death of Mr W. R. R. Churton, of the National Bank. Invercargill. Deceased, who was 46 years of age, cycled to Haka Houka, about eight miles from town, and had just dismounted at his destination when he fell dead from heart failure. Deceased was much respected, and was a very able officer. He was previously in a similar position at Mosgiel and Outram. He leaves four daughters and two son-.

The Mount Ida Chronicle reports tlio death of Mr Peter Howard, a very old resident of the district, who died very suddenly at his residence, Hyde, from heart disease. Ho was engaged in conversation with Mrs Howard when suddenly she noticed that something had happened to him. The family applied restoratives, but he died in a few seconds without speaking. Mr Howard was born near Chard, in Somersetshire and emigrated to Victoria about the middle of the fifties, coming to N-ew Zealand som* time later. The deceased gentleman was 68 year* of age. Another of the old identities has passed away (says the Balclutha Free Pies) in the person of the widow of the late Mr Peter Avson, who <3ied at her residence, " Cory don," Warepa, ou Friday, at the advanced, sge of 9£,.

The deceased lady, along with her husbpnd and family of seven cons and thieo daughters, arrived in Otago m the Royal Albert in March, 1853. While Mr Ayson and his sons were preparing a home at Warepa, Mrs Ayson lived m Dunedin, a peiiod of eight months, going out to " Coirdon ' in November of 1853. 'Ihere she has resided ever since. Two sous and one daughter were born to her afteT her arrival in the colony, bringing the family up to nine sons and four du.ught-ers. Mrs Ayson is survived by eight sons and three daughters, 76 grand children and 44 great-grand children. Tho deceased lady was endowed with a, splendid constitution, and was active and possessed of a-11 her faculties until five months ago. On October 21 she^sustained a fall while drawing down a. window blind in her house, breaking a leg, and from the shock she never quite recovered. .The fast- thinning ranks of the early settlers have lost yet another member by the death of Mrs Biggar on the 27th. She arrived with her husband and elder members of her family by th.c ship Melbourne in the early days, and 1 settled at Kaikorai about 40 years ago, where she resided up to the time of her death. Naturally of a retiring disposition, in a quiet way she endeared herself to many by her kindly acts, and she will long be remembered in the district where she has resided so long. Her husband, well known as road inspector in the old. , provincial government days, pre-deceased her by 21 years. One son and one daughter nlso pre-deceased her. She leaves a family of five sons and three daughters, numerous grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren to mo-urn their loss. News has been by cable of the death i% Sydney of JMjr Christian C. H. O. Fraser, youngest son. of -fche late Captain T. Fraser, M.L:C., and brother of Mr J. F. M. Fraser, of this city. The 'deceased gentleman, who was lijring with his brother in New South Wales, had been ill for^jibout two months. An Auckland wire reports the death of Monsignor Paul, of Onehunga, aged 82. We regret to record the death, which occurred at Napier on Sunday, of the Rev. Charles Connor, one of the pioneer Presbyterian ministers of Otago and Southland. Mr Connor was about 80 years of age, and is survived by his wife, who is a few years his senior. The deceased gentleman, on reaching Otago, was inducted into the charge of the Popotuiioa district."lo#. oOm*.oMa^