OBITUARY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3429, 2 December 1919, Page 42

OBITUARY.

MR JOHN DUNCAN.

(Fkoh Oua Own Corbesfondkmt.) WELLINGTON, November 26

New Zealand to-day lost one of its most higfoly respected business and public-spirited men through the death of Mr John Duncan, who had many intimate friends, not only in Wellington, but throughout I Jew Zealand. Born in Aberdeen over 80 years ago, and educated at the university there, Mr Duncan spent his early days in Ceylon, where he became well known. In 1880 he came to New Zealand in connection with the Vesey»Stewart settlement at Te Puke, and two years later he arrived in Wellington, where he was associated with the late Mr William Hort (Levin) in the business of general merchants and stock and station agents. With that firm in its varied stages he has been associated ever since, and was fpr several years • its managing director. Early in its existence Mr Edward Pearce, who had a similar business, became a partner in the company, and still later the firm joined forces with the National Mortgage and Agency Company, the business growing year "by year with the pnepcrity of the country and its able management. At the present day Mr Arthur Pearce and other members of that family, and Mr Duncan's three sons —lan, Kenneth, and Arthur—occupy responsible positions in the firm. Mr Duncan had in his late wife a charming and kindly helpmate, who delighted in good works. He leaves, in addition to his sons, his daughter Ethel, three grandsons and grandaughters. By all who had business with his firm the late Mr John Duncan was held in the highest esteem, both for his ability and his unimpeachable integrity. He was a conspicuous figure in volunteering -in the early days, and also at one time was chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Consul for Portugal. A handsome man, of splendid phyeiquo, he had charming social qualities, and his death, though not untimely, will cause grief to a very_ large number of friends, both here and in the Motherland.