OBITUARY

Otago Witness, Issue 3400, 14 May 1919, Page 41

OBITUARY

MR WILLIAM ADAMS. Mr William Adams, who died at his residence at St. Clair, on the 7th inst., had had a very wide experience of hydraulic sluicing and dredging in many parts of the dominion. He was a native of Lisneskea, County Fermanagh, Ireland, and arrived in Auckland in 1863. _ He immediately became engaged in engineering work, ereoting quartz crushing batteries, and acting as overseer. He left Auckland under engagement to Mr Perry, and erected and managed the first hydraulic sluicing and olevating plant in the dominion at farfamed Gabriel's Gully. From there he went to Adelong and Gundagai, in New South Wales, and for some time managed alluvial plants at these places. Returning to New Zealand, ho took up-the position of working manager of the Island Block Sluicing. claim, and, later, of the Island Block Extended Company. Then he became associated with Messrs Smyth and Donlan, and started hydraulic sluicing at Wetherstone's Flat. About this time the dredging boom was at its height, and Mr Adams entered with spirit into the new industry and became interested in many of the concerns which for a time made the Molynoux famous. Ho had interests in plants from Tuapeka Mouth right up the river to Bendigo, and for a time owned the Bendigo quartz mine and plant. His last work was in connection with removing the machinery from the dredge Pride of Clutha, and he was employed in these operations' till the last few weeks, when he was attacked with heart trouble. Mr Adams was a man of indefatigable energy and infinite resource, and the gold-mining industry of Otago has without doubt, by his death lost ono of its strongest, if not its very strongest supporter. Mr Adams was twice married. His first wife, whom he married shortly after coming to Auckland, died in 1907. He is survived by his second "wife. By hia first wife ho had fou*

daughters (two of whom aro married) and threo sons, two oi whom are dead, one Private John Thomas xVdams, being killed in action in France. He leaves one son by his second wife. For the past 13 or 14 years Mr Adams .had had his headquarters in Dunedin.