OBITUARY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3275, 20 December 1916, Page 18

OBITUARY.

MR. J. J. RAMSAY. Wo record with regret the death at Alexandra on Thursday morning, after a long illness, of Mr J. J. Ramsay, who was a •well-known figure throughout Otajajo. Mr Ramsay, who was born in the Shetland Islands, arrived in Dunedin, with his parents, when he was about three or four years of age. Ho accompanied his parents to Hyde, where ho was educated, and as a young man was engaged in carting work." He then took up a farm in the Hyde district. He onme to Dunedin at the time of the mining- boom, and started share broking, and after being thus engaged for a yea.r or so he entered into journalism as proprietor of the Tnieri Advocate. Later on he went to Clyde, ancT started a forward'Tig agency, and -was subsequently appointed to a position in the. Government offices at Wellington. He then received an appointment on the Wertroa farm—this was about seven years ago—but failing health necessitated his return to Dvmed ; n. Shortly afterwards lie became the proprietor of Hie Alexandra Herald, which ho conducted up to the time of Ivs death. Mr Ramsay was twice married. He leaves two eons by his first wife—one of whom is on aetivo service—and is also survived by his second wife. Mr Ramsay stood three times for Parliament, but was not successful in winning a seat. He was for several vears an active member of the Education Hoard, and was at one timr> president of the Maniototo Farmers' Association. Mr Ramsay was a keen politician, and was well known .as a correspondent of the newspapers. He was an ardent worker in the cause of education, a strong supporter of the secuhir system, and a vigorous advocate of the closer settlement of the hind. In fact. everyth'nsr in which ho became interested he worked for with a most praisevr-ortliv tenacity.