OBITUARY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3806, 22 February 1927, Page 48

OBITUARY.

The death of Mr Donald M’Lennan, farmer, of Hawea Flat, occurred recently at the age of 58 years. Mr M’Lennan’s father and mother were pioneers in Wanaka, and the deceased was about the twelfth child born there. He and his brother James ran the farm which was taken up by his late father and which was one of the first lot taken up under the deferred payment system. ’Mr M’Lennan had been in indifferent health for some years. Dr Robert Bernard Pearson Monson, M.D., Ch.B., F.R.C.S.E., whose death is reported from Sydney at the age of 38 years, was a former pupil of the Waitaki Boys’ High School, and his parents resided in Oamaru. He was prominent in athletic circles, and when he left Oamaru for the Otago University he became a useful member of the University Football team. He practised his profession on the West Coast for some time. A Greymouth Press Association telegram states that Mr John Greaney, aged 52 years, a county councillor and member of the Hospital Board, died suddenly on Friday morning from heart failure. . death occurreu on Saturday morning of Mr William Bailey, an old resident of North Otago, at the age of 78 years. Mr Bailey was born in the county of Durham, England, in 1848, and accompanied his father to Victoria in 1860. Two years later the family came to Otago, and the deceased gentleman turned to gold mining, first at Gabriel’s Gully and afterwards at Blue Spur, and Switzers. Those were exciting times, and the men who sought the-gold of Otago were constantly experiencing rough and

ready conditions and stirring experiences. , Tn 1872 Mr Bailey removed to Maerewhenua, which was then a flourishing mining centre. He combined mining with farming, and finally settled down to the latter pursuit, having a freehold of 178 acres and a small grazing run of 357 acres. He took an active part in the establishment of a sch« >1 at Maerewhenua, and ■, as for a considerable time a member of the committee. His public spirit was shown m the erection of a hall for the purposes of public functions. A few years ago Mr Bailey retired from active life and sought ease and recreation by taking up his residence in Oamaru, where he became a playing and enthusiastic member of the Phoenix Bowling Club. He was a Freemason attached to the Ngapara Lodge. Mr Bailey was married in 1869 to a daughter of Mr Edward Beckett, of Maerewhenua. Mrs Bailey died in 1894, leaving three sons and two daughters. Mr Bailey subsequently married again, and is survived by his second wife. Personally, Mr Bailey was of a quiet, unassuming, and pleasant disposition, and invariably secured the close attachment of any with whom he was brought into contact. Another of Wanganui’s old pioneers has passed away in the person of Mrs Anne Russell, relict of Mr John Russell, who died some 40 years ago. Mrs Russell, who had reached the age of 87 years, had resided in Wanganui since 1859, and therefore had her fair share of the trials and tribulations of those early days of the Maori war. Her kindly and genial nature endeared her to those intimately acquainted with her. She leaves a grown-up family of three sons and six daughters. The death of Mr William Moynihan, who passed away at his residence, Spring Terrace, Ngapuna, Central Otago, on February 8, removed a well-known and respected settler from that district. Landing at Port Chalmers in October? 1874, the late Mr Moynihan worked for some time for the late Mr James Cullen (Owhiro), and for the late Mr William Kirkland (Elm Grove), for whom he subsequently successfully managed his “Poplar Grove” estate at Middlemarch. He purchased Spring Terrace farm in 1907, and considerably added to it, until he built up a successful farming business, principally in fat stock raising in all its branches. Mr Moynihan was a hospitable friend, a good neighbour, a kind and considerate employer, and a staunch supporter of everything for the good of his district, and his death will be much regretted by his many friends throughout Otago. He was one of the founders of the Strath-Taieri A. and P. Society, and was president for nine years. He was also a member of the executive of the Otago A. and P. Society, and a justice of the peace in his district. The late Mr Moynihan leaves -one son, William; another son, Michael, having been killed at Passchendaele. _ Another son, Humphry, died of penumonia. His wife predeceased him several years ago.