OBITUARY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3782, 7 September 1926, Page 57

OBITUARY.

The death occurred at Palmerston on August 23 of Mr Join C. Service at th« age of 79 years. Mr Service was born at Dairy, Scotland He ended at Port Chalmers by the Edward P. Bouvrie in 1864, and, after spending s<me years in the employment of Mr Murdoch, Goodwood, and Mr Rich, Bushey Park, he decided to try his luck at the gold diggings, subsequently taking up land in Shag Valley. As a surveyor, he was well known in the Shag Valley district. He was closely associated with the Presbyterian Church, having been a member for nearly half a century and an elder for 10 years. Ho came to Palmerston about 12 years ago, and resided there until the time of his death. He is survived by a widow and two daughter?— Mrs Jas. Black (Palmerston) and Mrs Jas. Kennedy (Waianiwa). At the age of 93 Mr John Horr passed away at the Wallace Hospital on August 26. Mr Horr, who was a native of Canada, landed at Riverton in 1573, where he was engaged in driving the coach between Riverton and Invercargill. He was one of the oldest Masons in the Dominion, and became affiliated with the Aparima Masonic Lodge shortly after it was formed. In connection with the death of Mr Herbert Beer* aged 44 years, at Mossburn on Avgust 28 it transpires that deceased, who was driving home after finishing ploughing, was thrown back on the plough, when the tractor, which had caterpillar wheels, climbed over him, and, coming to rest on his head, caused his death. No one saw the accident. Mr Ilealey, a neighbour of Mr Beer, was hurt on August 27, when, driving home with a load of coal, he was crushed by the dray. A respected resident of Otautau, Mr John Fisher, passed away on August 24. Mr Fisher, who was 87 years of age, was born at Catrine, Ayrshire, Scotland, and came out to the Dominion in 1862, landing at Port Chalmers by the ship Ben Lomond. After spending some time on the diggings at Nokomai and Waikawa, he started a sawmill at Clifden in 1884, and later on commenced sawmilling operations at Colac. On his retirement he settled in Otautau. He leaves a widow, two sons, and one daughter. The. death occurred on August 30 of Mr Alfred Ernest Boot, after an illness extending over some weeks. Mr Boot was born in Dunedin in 1870, and educated at the Otago Boys’ High School. He studied dentistry under his father, Mr Alfred Boot, one of the first dentists in Dunedin. In 1892 he became a partner in the firm of Messrs Hunter and Boot, which was dissolved in 1897. Mr Boot then established a business on his own account in Dunedin, and afterwards studied in London and Philadelphia, resuming business on his return to this city He took an interest in photography, and also in sport, and in 1897 was captain of the Dunedin Cycling Club. Mr Boot was also a keen bowler. The death is reported from Hobart, Tasmania, of Mr John C. Ellis, who at one time owned, in partnership with his brother, the Merrivale, Five Rivers, and Northope estates in Southland. Mr Ellis, who must have been in his eightieth year, or even older, was very well known in Southland. He left the Dominion about 12 years ago to reside on a property he owned in South Australia, and he paid no return visits. He leaves a wife and two daughters. The death occurred on Friday, under painfully sudden circumstances, of Mr Edward Henry Penny, one of Blenheim's best known and most highly esteemed public men. Mr Penny had bjen in indifferent health for two or three weeks. He was apparently in fairly good health this morning, but later in the afternoon was found dead in bed, having apparently passed away quietly in his sleep. Mr Penny settled in Blenheim in 1885, and purchased a stationery and book business. He became Mayor of the town in 1904, and for a long period was a member of the Wairau Hospital Board. He was prominently associated with the Methodist Church, of which he was a lay preacher. In 1920 Mr Penny was vice-president of the New Zealand Methodist Conference. He was a member of the Blenheim School Committee for nearly 30 years, and chairman since 1910. He was a member of the Wellington Education Board, and chairman of the Board of Governors of Marlborough College. In the 1919 election Mr Penny contested unsuccessfully the Wairau electorate in the Reform interest. Mr J. C. N. Grigs, of Longbeach, died on Friday, aged 65 years. As owner of the Jiamoua estate once described aS the “World’s Model ■ Farm,” he was known throughout New Zealand and abroad. Succeeding his father, Mr John Grigg, in 1901, he worthily upheld the traditions of the estate, which, though reduced in area of late years, lias not diminished in fame. Mr Grigg was born at Auckland in 1861, and was educated at Christ’s Colieg , Christchurch, and at Cambridge University. On returning to New Zealand in 1883 he became overseer of Longbeach, and acted in that capacity until the death of his father. His importations of pedigree cattle, horses, sheep, and pigs have had beneficial effects on the Dominion’s stock. The first line of Holsteins brought to New Zealand was imported from Holland by him. Mr Grigg also owned some good trotters and gallopers, his father having owned Spot, the son of Gentle Annie, the foundation of the trotting stock in the Dominion, lie took a keen interest in the Ashburton A. and P. Association, being president in 1888-89. It is noteworthy that his father was the first president, and his son, Mr J. H. Grigg, occupies that position in this, the association’s jubilee year. He was at one time a member of the County Council, and was a member of the Power Board since its inception. He was also a member of the Meat Producers' Board, and of many local and public bodies. In his youth he was noted as an athlete, a Rugby playir, and a keen cricketer. He is survived by his wife,, who was a daughter of the late Captain Huttou, curator of the Canterbury Museum, and also by three sons —Messrs J. H. and A. N. Grigg (Longbeach) and G. H. Grigg (Hor6rata); and two daughters, Mesdames M’Donald (Christchurch) and Shaw (England). The death occurred bis home at Te Houka on Wednesday last of a very old resident of the district in the person of Mr Charles Dallas. The late Mr Dallas waa born in Dundee, Scotland in 1849,

and came out to New Zealand in the Storm Cloud as a lad, landing at Port Chalmers in 1861. He first went to Milton, where he remained for two years, later taking up the farm at Te Houka, where he resided up to the time of his death. He marrjed some 40 years ago Miss Matheson. ot‘ the Otago Peninsula, who survives him. The lute Mr Dallas wa~ for over 30 years chairman of the Te Houka School Committee, and was connected with the Presbyterian Church throughout his life. He had been an elder for some considerable time, and also showed a great interest in Sunday school work. He hau been in failing health for the past five weeks. Two sons and four daughters are left to mourn their loss—viz., Thomas (Dunedin), Charles (Te Houka), Mrs Totty (Staveley, Canterbury), Mrs Noone (St. (.’lair), Mrs J. Davidson (New Plymouth), and Miss Dallas (Te Houka).