OBITUARY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3499, 5 April 1921, Page 7

OBITUARY.

MR THOMAS PATON. The death of Mr Thomas Paton, after a lengthy illness, is announced by the Dannevirke Evening News. The late Mr Paton will be remembered by the residents of Lawrence, who held him in the highest esteem during the -itime he acted as local stationhis pleasant manner and obliging disposition rendering him exceedingly popular. The late Mr Paton commenced his railway career when he was 15 years of age, joining the service as a cadet at Dairy, Scotland, and eventually filling the pqsition of stationmaster at Longriggend for nine years. When he arrived in New Zealand 40 years ago he immediately joined the railway service, and was in charge of the first train that ran from Waipahi to Kelso. He was afterwards stationmaster at Ngapara for 3£ years, returning to Kelso and remaining there as stationmaster for 12 years. Later he was transferred to a similar position at Lawrence, where he remained for three yeas. In 1901 he was transferred to Dannevirke, filling the position of stationmaster there until his retirement in 1911. The sympathy of a wide circle of friends will be extended to Mrs Paton and family. MR DANIEL HAYNES. In the death of Mr Daniel Haynes, which occurred at his residence on Thursday afternoon, there passed away one who has been one of Dunedin’s leading business men for considerably more than half a century. The late Mr Haynes was born at Nopton, Warwickshire, England, in the year 1832, and was therefore close on 90 years of age. He was the son of a farmer, and what little education there was obtainable in those days was gleaned by him in the country school. When he was 13 years of age he was employed with a large drapery firm in Coventry, and he there served an apprenticeship of seven years, the hours of labour then being 86 in place of the 42 of the present day. On the completion of his indenture, and after a week’s holiday, Mr Havnes made his way to London, and succeeded in getting a footing in some of the best business establishments of the great metropolis, where he gained an experience that has since been of inestimable value to him. In the early part of 1857 lie decided to try his fortune in New Zealand, and embarked on board the s.s. Lord Ashley, which took 150 days to make the voyage to Auckland. Here Mr Haynes obtained a situation with Messrs David Graham and Co., with whom he remained until he came to Dunedin with Mr Herbert and Mr A. R. Hay, who had also been with the same firm, and founded the firm of Herbert, Haynes, and Hay. They opened a business at Gabriel's Gully when the gold rush set in there, and returned to Dunedin in 1862. Premises were erected of wood on the site of the present place of business, there being a gully at the rear of the place, Mr Haynes in the meantime taking a situation with Kirkpatrick and Co., drapers, near the Post Office. Mr Hay went Home shortly after this, and returned to the colony in 1864 in the ship Black Swan with five other members of his family, and there was almost immediately a dissolution of the existing partnership, Mr Hay going out and Mr Herbert and Mr Haynes carrying on the business. These two gentlemen continued in business until 1872, when Mr Herbert retired and left Mr - Haynes in sole possession. Of course during these years the business, in careful hands, prospered greatly, and the premises were always undergoing addition and improvement, and assumed the position of being one of the leading houses in Dunedin. The great Princes street fire of 1867 will be remembered by older residents of the city. This swept both sides of Princes street from the Octagon southwards for a considerable distance, and the premises of Herbert, Haynes were entirely demolished by it. No time was however lost in the work of re-erection, and ' soon afterwards a substantial brick building took the place of the wooden one, which had not been up more than about five years. Mr Haynes continued energetically to keep abreast of the times, and the firm’s premises are now among the finest in the city. In 1907 the business was floated into a limited liabilitv company. Mr Haynes took practically no part in the public affairs of the city, his attention being completely occupied in looking after the big business concern of which he had control. He visited England on six different occasions in the interests of the business, so as to keep in touch with the march of progress in tile old world. Mr Haynes was a director of the Standard Insurance Company for some years, but apart from that his energies were concentrated in his own business. He took a great interest in gardening, and lived a quiet, retired life. He was a valued member of Trinity Wesleyan Church, to which he was a good friend on many occasions, his connection with the church dating from very soon after his arrival in Dunedin. He held office as a trustee of the church and manse. During the war lie contributed liberally to patriotic funds, but for the past three years he has been confined to his home partially paralysed. In 1864 Mr Haynes married a daughter of Mr Alexander Miller, of Roslyn. by whom he is survived. The family consists of four daughters and two sons, all of whom are married. Mr John Haynes resides now in Wellington, and Mr Alick Haynes is business manager for the firm in Dunedin. Two of the sisters are married to two brothers, who comprise the big drapery firm of J. Ballantyne and Co.. Christchurch. The other sisters are Mrs Mill and Mrs Newburgh Lawson, whose husband is a runholder at Barewood. MR SAMUEL I,AW. The death occurred on Thursday, March 24, of Mr Samuel Law, a very highly respected resident of Palmerston North. “ The late Mr Law was born in Lanarch, Scotland, 66 years ago, and he came to New Zealand in 1557 to join his brother, Mr Peter T,aw, who was engaged in gold-mining near Naseby, Central Otago. Mr Law took up land on the Maniatoto Plains and farmed it for many years. In 1903 ho sold out his farm and came to Palmerston North, where he became proprietor of the Willow Bank boardinghouse. He has lived here ever since. He had been in bad health for a considerable period prior to his demise. The deceased loaves a wife and eight children, including four married daughters, one married son, and a girl and two boys attending the local High School. The late Mr Law was an old member of the Oddfellows’ Lodge, and was very popular and well-known among bowlers. He was a member of the Palmerston North Bowling Club, and great regret at his demise was expressed by Mr C. P. Spooner when opening the recent tournament.