DEATH OF MR HENRY CLARK

Otago Witness, Volume 23, Issue 2684, 23 August 1905, Page 36

DEATH OF MR HENRY CLARK

It is with extreme regret that we chronicle the death of Mr Henry Clark, a very old settler, who passed away on Tuesday, 15th, at the age of 85 years. Mr HenryClark was born in Berwickshire, Scotland, in 1621. He received his schooling at the parish school ait Polworth, and was afterwards employed at farm work. He was then apprenticed to learn the .trade of a carpenter, and ar the as-'e of 22 years left Berwick for Edinburgh, where he remained for five years working at his trade. He happened to arrive in Edinburgh in 1843, immediately after the Disruption, and was present at the first Free Church Assembly held in Tannamilla Hall, Dr Chalmers being the moderator. Mr Clark often said the impression of the great pleasure he felt at hearing tho groat and worthy men composing the assembly speak was never effaced from his memory. In 1844- Mr Clark was married in Edinburgh. In April, 1848, along with his wife and daughter, he took bou.t from Edinburgh for London, and there ioined the ship Blundoll, bonaid for Otago. It took the vessel five months )o reach her destination, and in September. 3?48, Mr Clark landed at Dunedin. and slept the first night ashore on tho beach. Ti:e next day, however, he secured a clay whare, and this was his home un.til he got his house built. The whare was built just where the Crown Hotel now stands. Soon afterwards he entered into partnership with Mr Garvie as builders and contractors. After some time Mr Garvie joined the survey department, and remained in tha.t employ till his death. Mr Clark then took the laite Mr W. Langlands into partnership in the building business. For four years Mr Clark lived in Clarke street, which street was named after Mm. and should, of course, be snelt without the "e !I Mr Claik purchased from the New Zealand Company a 10-acre section, upon part of which the Borough of Morning-ton now stands. He cold this section to" Mr W. H. Reynolds, and the partnership . with Mr Langlands being dissolved, Mr Clark purchased land (now Clarksville) near Tokomairiro, and started farming. About 1664 he purchased 960 acres at Glenoro. Leasing this land to a tenant, he carried on the building trade in Tokomairiro for sevcra-l years, but after the diggings he engaged in farming. Mr Claik continued farming for over 20 years, after which he leased all his land and retired, - living at his old place at Clarksville, where he has resided for over 40 years. Though not carrying on any private biisiness, his time was a 1 ways fully occupied with public business. His first entrance info public life was when the Constitution was about to be put into operation. " Tho Little Enemy," or English party, was determined that all Maoris should have votes, and Captain Cargill and some friends got Mr Clark to go round, both north and south, and serve objections against their voting. The ccuntry was totally unsettled, and it was a formidable iob to hunt up the Maoris. Mr Clark wont to Purakanui, got all the Natives together, and read out the Maoris' names. They all answered at once, and appeared quite pleased ; but the trouble was to distinguish them. Mr Nichol, of Otepopo, accompanied Mr Clark on this tour. About 1864 Mr Clark was elected a member of the Otago Provincial Council for the Tokcunairiro district. The district was subsequently divided, and Mr Clark was then elected for the portion known as Ma.tau, arid remained a member of the council till the abolition of the provinces. Shortly after Ihs Counties Act was brought into operation the first election took place, a.nd Mr Clark was returned as a member of the Bruce Coun.ty Council He was elected first chairman, and was re-elected year after year, being the ornly cha.irma.n the County of Bruce had until 1P97. Wher the Education Act was brought into foroo in 1878 Mr Clark was elected a member of the Otago Education Board, and remained a member until March. 1898— a period of 20 years,— during which .time ho was chairma.n for three years. He was for some time a member of the High Schools Board of Governors as representative of the Education Board. He was for many years a member of the Otago Land Board, and was appointed to thf> commission for classifying the runs of Otago for several years. Several times he was pressed to fctand for the House of Representatives, bv.t always declined. He was for years a member of the Hospital Board and the Charitable Aid Board as representative of the Milton and Kaitangata Boroughs. In the public positions he occupied Mr Clark at all times commanded the respect of the public and the officers and, being a man of sound judgment and common sense, his opinion was very highly valued. The fact that he was continued for so many years in vrious offices is «*jfficiein proof of the appreciation of his services. Ha always took a deep interest in religious matters. In Edinburgh he was an eider of the Dean Church, Edinburgh, in connection with the Free Church of Scotland. In April, 1849, the election of four elders for Fk-sfc Churoh took place. Mr Clark was returned at the head of the voting, his co-workers being Mr James Blaekie (schoolmaster), Cap.tain William Cargill (rosidemV agent of the New Zealand Company), andl Mr Alexander Chalmers (proprietor, Halfway Bush) With the death of Mr Clark the last survivor of this little band disappears. In " Fifty Years Sine," published some years ago, there occurs this paragraph concerning Mr Clark: — " H© was one of the most trusted advisers of his minister in fehe early days, and thve^ himself heartily into every

Christian enterprise. He is a ma.n of fine spiritual insight and capacity. Though his voice is seldom heard, his counsel is highly valued. He is, atter all the.=e years of change, a kind of Nestor to a new genera.non. The available materials for forming a sound, judgment on any question before his session are not regarded as complete until he has spoken. The flame of his youthful devotion may have in a measure spent itself but there remains a glow of piety bi fitting the evening hours of a toilsome day. He has been a presbyter of the best, type; wisely conservative of his Church's inner life and polity, yeit ever ready to adjust its out-works to the changing forces of society." In disposition Mr Clark was a'ways genial, kind, and obliging 4 , and to know him was to possess a true and staunch friend, of whom one could not but be proud. A very wide circle of friends will regret the fine old ger£lem<an's demise. His wife, for many years tho companion of his joyp. and sorrows, died recently. They are survived by four daughters, three of whom are married — Mrs Tulloeh (Glenore), Mrs John Adam (View Bank, Onchton), and Mrs James Forrest (Dunedin).