OBITUARY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2671, 24 May 1905, Page 54

OBITUARY.

Mr Joseph Walker, an old resident of the Wyndham district, died last week, after a short illness, at the age of 70 years. The deceased was an early colonist, axi<3 was engaged in the carrying trade to the Otago goldfields in the sixties.

Mr J. E. Beckingham, hea-d of a ■well-known, furnishing house in Tiinaaru, passed away in that town a few days ago, in his sixty-eighth year. Ma: Becking'ham arrived in Otagt) im 1860, and took part in the Gabriel Gully rush. On leaving the goldfields two years later Mr B&ckxngham and a, companion just missed being stuck up by Garrett, a. notorious bush ranger. On the occasion in question a party of four left Gabriel's Gully about two houis before Mr Beokingham and his comrade, and when the latt6r reached Gresson's (well-known in Timaru) accommodation house that night tha four other travelers had not arrived. Later on v.<or<3 cstxae to htaxxd that they ituci been stopped and " gone through " by Ga.rrett while -working their way through the bush, and it was owing to the fact that he was busy on this) band that Mr Beokingham and his friend escaped Garrett a-s they came through the bush. After " relieving '" th.em of all they possessed in the way of valuables G-arrett tied them to trees, and there left them. It was in this pi&dicament that the four unfortunates were found. Mr Beckingham, on his first visit to Timaru, walked the whole way from Duneditt, having to swim the "WaitaJsi River. Tie return trip was made the same -way. !-^- Henry H. Jackson, one of New Zealand's pioneer settlers, died at Greytown recently ; aged 88 years. When about 22 years of age he was engaged by the New Zealand Company as paymaster and storekeeper to the first survey party sent out under Captain. Smith to survey the town of Britannia at Port Nicholson, the place now known as Petone. Mr Jackson and his party landed! in 1839, in the barque Arba, 274 tons. He ' was present at the first Labour Conference in New Zealand (1840). Later he helped to start a small farm association in Wairarapa, and selected the sites of Masterton. and Greytown. A Nelson telegram states that Mr Samuel Bolton, sen., nurseryman, a prominent Mason, and an old resident of that city, died on Tlmrsday morning. Mr F. H. Revell, of Palmerston North, died on Thursday last. Deceased served ia India with one of the British cavalry regiments before coining to New Zealand. He served as a trooper in the Maori war, and was a member of the New Zealand Constabulary. For a number of years he was custodian of the Government Buildings. Wellington, from which position he Tetired eight years ago. He had been farming \intil death.

A complication has arisen (says the Christchurch Press) with respect to the holiday in honour of the Prince of Wales'a Birthday, June 3. This year the anniversary falls on a Saturday, and several grocers and others are bound, under the award of the Arbitration Court, to give their employees a holiday. Under the circumstances this is most inconvenient.

We have received a cheque for £2 5s from A. Matheson and Co., being amount! collected by Mr James Muir en account of the Young Sootchn l an Fund, and from Messrs O. H. Tucfeer and Co. & cheque for £1 Isu