OBITUARY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2673, 7 June 1905, Page 33

OBITUARY.

The- West Coast Times reports the death of an old colonist in. the person of Mr John | Duncan, at the ago of 93 years. The late Mr Duncan, when a youth, was a messenger ia the year 1836 to the late Sir John , Franklin, the fanKrus Arctio explorer, who i was then Governor of Tasmania. Subsequently the deceased went to Victoria, where he was well and favourably known in the early fifties. He was a member of the first volunteer rifle company that was ever formed in the colonies, and for several years was in charge of the rifle butts in Williamstown, "Victoria. He arrived in Hokitika about 40 years ago, and for a large number of years was engaged in boating between Hokitika and the South SpitFor some years he held the position of Inspector of Fisheries, and resigned the office owing to the increasing weight of ■ years. Mr Robert Huie, school teacher at Waipahi, ■whose d«ath was announced in last week's issue, died very suddenly on Saturday last, i 27th inst. Mr Huie had been unwell all the ' week, but thought ho was ab.out right again, and on getting up siiddenly collapsed, and died in a few minutes. The deceased gentleman, who had been stationed in several districts in Otago at various times, was a very capable teacher, and was universally loved by his pupils. Ho possessed high literary attainments, which unfortunately he did not cultivate in la.ter years. Miss Huie, who has been ft teacher at the Normal School for several years, is a, sister of the deceased. | The news of the sudden death of Mr James Walker, evangelist, of Edinburgh, will be received with regret by his many friends in New Zealand. By the last accounts influenza i v/as prevalent, and the various workers in the revival services in Glasgow were suffering more or less severely from the intense cold. Mr James Walker has been labouring for over 30 years as evangelist in the la,rge cities of North Britain, and will be greatly missed by those whom he has helped by his earnest life and faithful preaching. i .; The Clutha Leader reports the death or j another old identity in the person of Mr Jonn I Giant, of Waitapeka, who died on "Wednesday, ' May 31, at the agp of 72 years. Mr Grant | vva.s a nut vo of Blaivgc-u-rie, a,nd came to Dun1 eclm in the Strathniore in 1856. He worked Iv the Taieri district with hia brother, Mr l'eier Grant, of Gowi?i, no well known to Taieri residents. He went to the goldfields when Gabriel's Gully was discovered, aud on returning he was married by the late Dr Stuart to Miss Elizabeth Meikle, sister of , Mr Robert Meikle, of Dunedin, who was re1 cently farming at Otenpmo-ino. After a short

stay in Dunedin Mr and Mrs Grant removed to the Waitapeka district, moie than 40 yeara ago, where a farm had been selected, and have been in occupation of it ever pipce. Th« late Mr Grant was of a quiet disposition, and did not take aJiy active interest in publif affairs beyond his never- failing interest v church matters. The deoeased gentleman, who had been very unwell lste.y, leaves i Widow, five sons, and four daughters. An Inverc*rgih telegram reports the deatli of Mr John M Bride, an old Quiiorniaii diggei of 1819. He was 00 years of age, and had besi resident m Southland since 1862.