Obituary

Southland Times, Issue 11900, 23 November 1891, Page 3

Obituary

A familiar figure has passed from our midst in the person of Mr J. S. Aldred, who succumbed at his residence, Spey street, on the 20th inst. to an attack of influenza and bronchitis. Tne deceased was a very old colonist, and before coming to Invercargill had lived for some years in the Lakes district, where he commanded a volunteer corps and occupied leading positions in some of the friendly societies. He was, indeed, quite a veteran in these respects, having been connected with different societies for over 30 years. After settling in Invercargill he maintained his interest in them, and did good service as a member of the Pioneer of Southland Lodge, 1.0. F., A.C., of which he was a P.G., and had for some time acted as Permanent Secretary. He was also connected with'the Masonic body. Whenever an entertainment was organised for any benevolent purposes his services were readily given, and the earnestness with which he entered into any movement with which he was associated did much to bring about a successful issue. Of kindly and equable disposition, Mr Aldred bore with cheerfulness the vicissitudes which he, in common with many of our old settlers, experienced, and he will be greatly missed by a wide circle of friends, whose sympathy will be extended to his widow and family in their bereavement. Mr Aldred, who was 63 years old, had been ailing rather less than a fortnight Very general regret was felt in the West Plains district on the 20th inst when it became known that Mr James McNaughton had passed away. The deceased was a bachelor and lived alone, occupying an allotment of twenty acres, formerly part of a considerable holding which he sold at a very good figure to Mr P. K. McCaughan gome years ago. His brothers-in-law, Messrs A. Toshach, and J. Macpherson, and Mr J. Murray, visited the house on Thursday evening, and chatted with the deceased, who appeared to be in his usual health and spirits, till ten o'clock, when they left. Next morning a boy staying with Mr Macpherson was given a paper to leave at Mr McNaughton 's as he went to school. He did so, and returning in the evening he noticed that it had not been taken in, and told Mr Macpherson, who went to Mr McNaughton 's residence about ■even p. m. He found his relative lying dead in the passage leading to the front door. An open book, and a kerosene lamp, which had evidently burned out (the oil being exhausted) were found on the table inside, at which deceased had apparently been reading, and it is supposed that he must have taken ill after his visitors left on Thursday Fnight, and had tried to get outside for assistance. He had been in delicate health for a long time, and was attended two years ago by Dr Young, who found that he was suffering from valvular disease of the heart. Notwithstanding his ill-health, which did not, however, prevent him from engaging in oat-door pursuits, Mr McNaughton possessed a cheerfulness and geniality which made him greatly liked and respected by his neighbours, who recognised in him a man of sterling qualities. He was quiet and unobtrusive in his habits, and a great reader, a fact sufficiently attested by his possession of a good library. He was among the earliest settlers in the district, and came to the colony in the ship Lady Egidia in 1861. The deceased, who was in his sixty -first year, followed, the occupation of a clothier in his earlier days, and lived for some time in Newfoundland.