OBITUARY

Otago Witness, Issue 3335, 13 February 1918, Page 21

OBITUARY

SIR HENRY ..JOHN MILLER. v Tho death occurred on the 6th inst., at Oamaru, of Sir Henry John Miller, who had nearly attained the completion of his eighty-eighth year (states the Oamaru Mail). For some time Sir Henry had been in frail health. The deceased gentleman, the son of the Rev. Thomas Miller, sixth baronet, of Hampshire, England, was born in 1830 at Froyfe, Alton, Hants, and educated at Eton. At tho age of 30 he arrived in Otago from Sydney, and in 1863 he took up his residence in North Otago, and ongaged in pastoral pursuits. He resided there ever since, and, though North Otago has been tho centre of his activities, in later years he has been largely engaged in mining enterprises on the West Coast. His political career commenced in May, 1863, when he was elected to the Otago Provincial Council - as the representative of Oamaru. His value a 3 a politician and administrator was early recognised, and he was Secretary of Worka for about two years, voluntarily relinquishing the office at the end of 1866. On • July 8. 1865, Sir Henry was called to the Legislative Council by tho Weld Ministry, and held his seat for 52 years, being at the time of his retirement, in July of last year, one of the remnant of five members appointed under the life-tenure system. With the exception of Captain Baillie, whose- appointment dates back to March, 1861, Sir Henry Miller was the oldest member of the Legislative Council, and, indeed, of the Now Zealand Parliament. From July 29 to September 10, 1872, he was a member or the Executive Council in the Fox Ministry, his retirement being due to tho defeat of the Government on an adverse vote by Sir Edward Stafford. For the succeeding 20 years Sir Henry remained a private member, but on July' 8, 1892, he waa chosen Speaker in succession to Sir Harry Atkinson. Sir Henry Miller, who had the distinction of being the first Speaker elected by the Council, previous appointments being made by the Governor, held the position for 11 years. At the expiry of his last term he declined to/ seek re-election. He was lenighted when the present King, then the Duke of York, visited Otago m June, 1901, the ceremony taking place at Fernhill Club, Dunedin. Sir Henry at the time of his retirement was 87 years of age, and for several sessions had been unable to take any active part in the proceedings of the Council, hence his retirement. He was one of the founders of the North OtaTgo Agricultural and Pastoral Association and a member of its first committee; a member of the Oamaru Dock Trust from its inception until it went out of existence in favour of the Oamaru Harbour Board, of which he became one of the original members; a member of the Board of Governors of Waitaki High School from its creation and for a lengthy period;-one of the trustees of the Oamaru' Racecourse for some years, besides acting on a variety of committees of a'more fleeting character. He was for many years chairman of directors of the Westport Coal Company. Sir Henry was married in 1864 to a daughter of the late Mr John of Waikouaiti, and is survived by Lady Miher, beeides whom he leaves one daughter (Mrs St. John Bucklev) and five sons. The sons are: Messrs Henry and William Miller, who are farming at Dannevirke, m the North Island; Lieutenant-colonel George Miller, of the Imperial Field Artillery, and now on active service; Mr Charles Miller, farming on the West Coast of this island; and Mr Arthur Miller, who remains at the home of the family, " Fernbrook." \ MR J. CARSON. Information was received at the Hillside Workshops on tho 6th instant that JVIr J. Carson, manager of tho workshops, had died suddenly at Greymouth earlier in the day Tho deceased left Dunedin a week a«o to take up the position of locomotive engineer in charge ol the West Coast. He was 51 years or age, and spent 35 years in the service of the Railway Department, starting at 16 years of age at the Hillside Workshops. He was born m Castle street. Dunedin. On the completion of his ap prenticeship ho was transferred to the Auckland Workshops as leading hand, and after a time there ho went to the West Coast as foreman, only to bo transferred to Dunedin to a similar position at Hillside. After a short term at Petone he was appointed temporary manager of tho Addmgton works, being subsequently transferred to the position of manager of tho Hillsido works. Tho deceased was very popular with his men, and it was said of him that he could get better service from tho men under him than anyone who had ever occupied the position of manager at Hillside. He was a most tactful official, and this was in a largo measure responsible for his success in tho Railway Department. Ho was highly esteemed both in and out of tho service aa a man cf sterling principles. lie was a lifo member of the Grango Cricket Club, and wa* connected with all the functions arranged by the Hillside men for the purpose of raising funds for our sick and wounded soldiers. During the Queen Carnival his daughter—now Mrs Overton, wife •;>f Lieutenant Overton, on active service was the Public Service Queen, and the men and all officials vied with each other m fheir endeavour to do honour to the daughter of their esteemed workshops manager Tho late Mr Carson leaves a widow and four other children, including

a son, who left New Zealand with tho Main Body, went through tho Gallipoli campaign, and has seen service ever since in France. Captaip Carson, of Gisborne, 5b a hrotho;.- of tho deceased, and another brother is Mr Wm. Carson, engineer for the Whangarei Lime and Cement Works. His only eistcr is tho wife of Sub-inspector Mathicson, of tho Central Police Station. Much sympathy will bo felt for the bereaved relations ever tho untimely death df one who, while still in his prime, had made his mark in the Railway Department, and had endeared himself to his wide circle of friends. Tho oause of death was heart tail ure, probably occasioned by a severs cold