OBITUARY

Otago Witness, Issue 3196, 16 June 1915, Page 63

OBITUARY

MR JOHN SIDEY.

The death of Mr John Sidey, which took place at his residence, Corstorphine, Caversham, on Monday, removes a well-known Tigure from the Dunedin district. The deceased gentleman enjoyed almost perfect health up to a few days before his death. He twice visited the Winter Show, and on the King’s Birthday ’he went for a motor drive to Berwick. On Sunday week, late in the evening, he was overcome by a slight seizure. Ho took to his bed on the fdicing day, and passed away yesterday at the ago of 92 years. All his life Mr Sidey has been a very liberal giver to charitable and other worthy objects. He paid the debt on the Oaversham Presbyterian Church, and at the same time installed a handsorng organ in the building. He also contributed liberally towards the cost of building many of tho institutions connected with the religious, educational, and social life of the city. One of his last acts was the placing of his signature on a cheque for £IOO wllich he had donated to the Wounded Soldiers’ Fund in support of tho Soldiers’ Queen. In March, 1913, Mr Sidey left Dunedin on a trip to the Old Country. He was in Britain on the outbreak of tho_ present war, and was stranded for some time owing to all vessels to tho dominion being commandeered by the Government. Mr Sidey was born in March, 1823, in Edinburgh, Scotland, where _ he was brought up to the business of his father, who was a builder and contractor. He remained in Edinburgh until he was 20 years of age, and afterwards went to London, where he was joined by his father, and the firm entered into business as speculative builders, After selling a few of their properties to advonta.ge, a period of depression ensued. Mr Sidey, sen., returned to Edinburgh, and Mr John Sidey joined tho association which had undertaken the colonisation of Otago. Ho purchased, whop taking out his passage to New Zealand, 50 acres of rural land in the new settlement, 10 acres of suburban land and a town section of onequarter of. an acre. Mr Sidey arrived at Port Chalmers by the ship Blundell In 1848, and settled on his 10-acro section, which was

situated about halfway between Dunedin, and Port Chalmers. After a time, believing there was a prospect of successful business as a storekeeper, he scut to England for u shipment of goods, and opened a store on his town section, where the Grand Hotel now stands. This business was carried on till 1857, when, having two years previously purchased land at Corstornhine, lie settled on the property, on which ho resided for 50 years. The site now occupied by the Grand Hotel, in High street, was let on lease by Mr Sidey on more than one occasion, and the interest in the building was eventually purchased by him. Mr Sidey brought his land into a thorough state of cultivation, and his residence, with its beautiful surroundings, is well known. In the early days Mr Sidey was a member of the Caversham and Green Island Head Boards. With the late Mr Macandrew and others, ho was interested in the erection of the old Mechanics’ Institute, which was built and successfully conducted for some time in. the early days. Mr Sidey was married in Dunedin, in 1858, to a daughter of Mr Angus Murray, of the Highlands of Scotland, and his two sons and two daughters survive. One of the former (Mr T. K. Sidey) is the present M.P. for Dunedin South, and the other (Mr A. M. Sidey) is a land, estate, and financial agent. Two of Mr Sidey’s brothers survive him. Mr Robert Sidey, who is six years younger, came out to the colony in the John Wickliffe in 1848. He later went to Sydney, where ho now resides. The Rev. Thomas Sidey, of Edinburgh, is 20 years younger than his brother. MR WILLIAM SHAND. The death occurred on Sunday, at 52 Manor place, of Mr William Shand, late of Keith, Hall, Allanton. Mr Shand was one of the well-known Taieri farmers who did so much to make the plain the fertile land it now is. Ho arrived at the Taieri in November, 1873, and resided there till February, 1912. About the middle of that month the family left the Taieri to live in Dunedin, and on that occasion Mr Shand and the members of his family received many expressions of the popularity and esteem in which they were held. Shortly after leaving the Taieri Mr, Mrs, and Miss (Shand toured Australia and the South Sea Islands, and then took up their residence at Manor place, Dunedin. Mr Shand was married in 1880 to a daughter of Mr_ John Duncan, of Cherry Farm, Waikouaiti, and later of Corner Bush, Merton. He had two children—a son and a daughter. The former died in 1905, and the daughter has resided with her parents. Much regret will be felt at the decease of so popular v. member of the community. MR JOHN SMITH. Mr John Small!, woli-known throughout Southland ns a Government 'land valuer, died suddenly on Tuesday, Bth inst, in a railway carriage on the train which arrives in Invercargill from Bluff about 1.30. It appears (says the Southland News) that Mr Smaill, accompanied by Messrs James Sutton and James George left for Awarua by the 11.20 a.m. train to value some property in that district, and. being delayed somewhat in their work, they had to run to catch the train. Mr Smaill and the others reached the station in lime and took their seats in the carriage, hut no sooner had the train started off than Mr Smaill passed away._ tho death probably being due to heart disease. Deceased, who had come from the Eastern District in tho morning, appeared in his usual state of health and made no complaint that there was anything wrong with him. eo his sudden demise was a great shock to his companions. Mr Smaill, who was about 63 years of age, had been connected with tho Valuation Department for 15 years, his duties being largely eonfined t to the Eastern District. Previously ho was store keeping in partnership with Mr Brdftn at _ Gore. He leaves a widow and six of a family, tho youngest being about If) years of age. The late Mr Smaill was a wellknown resident of the Gore district (states the Ensign). He was a nat.vo of Corstorphine, near Edinburgh, Scotland, and was a son of the late Mr Charles Smaill, of the Otago Peninsula, arriving in the dominion by the ship Si-rathail-an in 1858. Mr Smaill was educated at the Otago Boys’ High School, having entered that school in 1868. For some years he_ followed farming pursuits with his father, but early in 1879 ho removed to Gore, carrying on business at East Gore in partnership with Mr A. L. Brown, under the name of Smaill and Brown, general merchants. The partnership was carried on for several years, when it was dissolved. Mr Smaill shortly afterwards entered into partnership with Mr R. M'Lennan, of the Hyde Home Station, as §kin and produce merchants. In 1899 ho waf appointed Government Land in suecess'bn to Mr Thomas Green, who had retired, which office he held until his death. Durmg his long residence at G i’C, and prior to his acceptance of the Government appointment, Mr- Smaill took a keen interest in local public matters.