OBITUARY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3713, 12 May 1925, Page 58

OBITUARY.

Mr John Craig, who will be remembered by old residents of Dunedin as tramways manager when the city and suburban trami'ja^3 jf Vere °™ ne d by the late Mr David J roudfoot, died at nis residence, George street, yesterday morning, after a rather lengthy illness. He was born at Saltcoats. County of Ayr. Scotland, in September, 1855. After his school days wero over he qualified as a mechanical engineer, and was in the employment of Lloyds in salvage operations until 1878, when he came to Dunedin tinder engagement to Mr Proudfoot as superintendent and mechanical engineer, x *Craig continued in the service of Mr Proudfoot as the tramways manager until the sale of the property to the Dunndin City and Suburban Tramways Company. He was employed by the company in his old position until the tramways ?. ere 80 |d f° the City Corporation in 1901. Mr Craig afterwards took a contract from the corporation for keeping the tramway tracks m order, in which he did exceedingly well. . After this ho spent a couple * y ® ars Nelson. He subsequently started a general storekeeper’s business in Uvvaka, and this he carried on for many years very successfully. He sold out ado lit five years since, and came to Dunedin to live. Mr Craig was a man of sterling character, and the friendships he formed were close and lifelong. In the Catlins district he was held in great regard, and was the friend of many of the struggling settlers in the early years when many of them had difficulty in weathering the vicissitudes that beset them. His wife predeceased him about 12 months since, all \ t S &ury i Ve d by one daughter. A Palmerston North Press Association message announces the death of Ernie Te Awe Awe, chieftainess of the Rangitane, Muaupoko Ngatiapa, Whansfanui, Upd koin and Hamua tribes. The deceased was the widow of Kerei Te Panau, a noted chief, and the sister of one of the four loyal chiefs who were presented by Queen \ ictoria with a Union Jack (tare nuia rangi). She was a great age, about 100 years, and is survived by a daughter and * ? r ? e of remoter descendants. • h tr r- ea i Closes an important chapter in *f 6 A^t 0 {"story of the Wes t Coast P’f 5*5? **. < ? le the earliest settlers of Soutn Canterbury, a noted sheep breeder and manager of the Ne w Zealand and Australian Land Company’s Levels estate until it was taken over by the Government for close settlement, died yesterday in his eighty-fifth year (says a Press Association message from Timaru). He served cn many public bodies,. including the levels County Council, of which he was chairman tor 30 years. He was a noted judge of sneep and light horses, and took a keen interest in sport, especially racing, hunting, and amateur athletics. A Madrid cablegram reporfS the death of the comedian Alfred Lester from pneumonia while on a health tour.

We regret to record the death, whieii occurred at Roslyn on Slunday, of the Rev. Robert Fairmaid. for many years a wellknown figure in the Presbyterian Church in Otago. Mr Fairmaid, who was 65 vears of age, was a native of Southland, where he received his early education. Having decided upon entering the church he came to Dunedin and attended classes in the University of Otago and at the Theological Hall, anil about 35 vears ago he was called to his first charge, that of minister of the Presbyterian Church in Kaitangata. Subsequently he was minister at South Taieri and West Taieri, and from the latter charge he waa called to the pastorate of the South Dunedin Church, in connection with which he laboured* actively and indeed indefatigably for many years. 111-health necessitated his retirement at the end of August last from the charge of a congregation, and latterly, as long as he was able to do so, he acted as official visitor at the Dunedin Hospital on behalf of the Presbytery. Mr Fairmaid is survived by his wife and a family of five sons, ail of whom are grown up.