OBITUARY

Otago Witness, Issue 3316, 3 October 1917, Page 43

OBITUARY

MR FREDERICK MALLARD. A kindly, courteous, and much-respected gentleman, in tho, person of Mr Frederick Mallard, passed away peacefully shortly after 9 o'clock on Friday evening. Mr Mallard came from a Devonshire family that for generations gave sons to the navy. His grandfather fought at Navarino, and his father was an officer in tho Thetis frigate when she was wrecked off Cape Frio in 1836. -There was an immense amount of treasure on board, all of which was saved. Mr Mallard was educated at the Royal Naval School, Greenwich, where the old navigating officers for the navy were trained in marino surveying. He arrived in the colonies in the early fifties, and was for three years navigating officer of a whaler trading to the South Seas. In the early part of J. 863 ho *took charge of tho Port Chalmers police, when there were sometimes 20 ships lying at anchor. His dtity was mainly to prevent the influx of criminals. On one occasion a large number of Western Australian convicts (expirees) were detained and deported from the province. For his vigilance he was complimented by Mr Branigan (his chief), and also by Mr Strode (the resident magistrate). After leaving Port Chalmers he was placed in charge of the Tokomairiro district, then the Tuapeka district, and subsequently Dunedin, under the late Mr Weldon. With that gentleman ho assisted in reorganising the Dunedin police force after the strike in the early seventies. Upon his retirement in 1880 he was publicly presented by the Mayor of Dunedin with an address and a purse of sovereigns. On several occasions judicial allusion was mado as to the fair manner in which some of his heavy prosecutions .were presented. After leaving tho Government service ho joined tho insurance profession, in which he remained for 17 years, and his superiors acknowledged his services as a careful marine and fire tuiderwriter. Owing to ago limit _he retired in 1897, since when he has lived in retirement. Mrs Mallard survives her husband, and their only son is Mr J. J. Mallard, of tho National Insurance Company.

Mr Mallard's memory was a veritable mine of historical anecdote and reminiscence, and his at all times genial nature rendered conversation with him a distnet pleasure. One of his stories, which all his friends have heard, connected him with the days of Nelson. It was the tale he used to tell of how Nelson's flap lieutenant, Captain Pasco (afterwards Admiral), took compassion en him when, as a seasick lad, he was going from Plymouth to Portsmouth in 1846, this being the occasion when Captain Pasco was going to rejoin his old ship the Victory.

CAPTAIN F. J. EASTHER, P.N

In the death of Captain F. J. Easther, which occurred late on Sunday, at his residence, Kew, Dunedin loses a very highly respected and well-known citizen of a great many years' standing. Captain Easther, who was a Royal Navy man," took part in the. operations in connection with the Maori war. He was for a number of years in tho service of the Union Fteam Ship Company, from which ho retired upon reaching the ago limit. Ho was closely associated with the Veterans' Association during its period of active existence, and for some time ho was p. member of the Board of Trustees of tho Benevolent Institxition. ,Eor many tears he participated in tho direction of tho affairs of St. Peter's Church, Caversham. Captain Easther's widow was a daughter of Mr T. K. "Weldon, formerly Inspector o{ Police in Dunedin. He leave* a family of two daughters and one son, Lieutenant Easther, who is now on active service.