The Late Mr A. N Campbell

Southland Times, Issue 19132, 24 August 1903, Page 2

The Late Mr A. N Campbell

» On Saturday news was received in 111---vercargill that Mr A. N. Campbell, for many years curator for the Southland Acclimatisation Society, had been found dead in a cottage at Half Moon Bay, Stewart Island, about 3.45 p.m on Friday. The deceased was lying fully dressed on his bed. He had been Jailing in health for some time.. Proua the foregoing many Southland people will know that Archibald Neil Campbell, one more of tho province's ever-lessening band of early settlers, has passed to his lone rest. Mr Campbell was a son of a notable Edinburgh iamHy, and nephew of the late Capt. Campbell, of Glondaruel, in the north of Scotland. Another branch of the family are merchant princes in the west of Scotland. Ho came to Australia to a relative, and for somo years was a cadet on tho lato Mr Neil Black's estate, Glenormiaton. in the western district of Victoria, which was then owned by Messrs Campbell and Findlay. Having there learnt something of pastoral life, Mr Campbell determined to strike out few himself, and in his search for suitable land. he came to New Zealand where the now well-known Waimahnka country attracted his attention. He entered into a partnership in the run with tho late Mr John Mackintosh, but it was shortly afterwards dissolved, and Mr Campbell took as partner his brother J vines, who but recently died at Gisborne. At this time he was about 25 years of age. After many years at Waimahaka ho bought a property in the Hokonuis, known as Cabbage Tree Hills. There he resided for a considerable number of years, but finally came to lirvercargill, 'where ho was appointed curator for the Acclimatisation Society. He here found congenial work, in which ho was enthusiastic, and assisted very materially in stocking the Southland rivers with trout, &\\d in the development of the Wallacetown hatchery. He was of a reserved nature, reticent even with friends, and his whole attention was divided between pisciculture and floriculture, for be was an ardent lover of flowers, particularly of roses, and his name frequently appeared in prize lists of the Dunedin and Southland Horticultural Societies' shows. For over twelve : years he" carried out the duties of his ofliee as curator, but tho work was annually increasing, and the . -weißht of years was pressing so heavily on him that he recently felt obliged to resign. The Council of the Society gracefully ncknowledged his services. He then estab•ished hiunself in Stewart Island, that ideal place of rest, contenting himself with occasional visits to his old haunts, but his friends had noticed that he was growing very infirm and the end was not unexpected. Indeed the manner ' of his death one cannot help thinking was as he would have himself desired — a peaceful ending in a peaceful place. . Air Campbell never married, B>»1. it is believed he has no relatives in the colony. Despite his reserved manner he i leaves in Southland many friends who! were fully cognisant of hia worth and intellectual acquirements, and those will very sincerely regret his death, eventhough he had reached the allotted span of 70 years.