TRIBUTES PAID

Southland Times, Issue 21627, 12 February 1932, Page 6

TRIBUTES PAID

LATE JOHN MATHESON SOUTHLAND HOSPITAL BOARD MEETS MR NIVEN’S EULOGY “I am sure that it is with the most sincere sorrow and regret that we meet here to-day mourning the passing of our revered chairman and personal friend, Mr John Matheson; and while our heartfelt sympathy goes out to his sorrowing wife and family we can only hope that the sure knowledge of the great services he renders to the people of Southland, the unselfishness of his life and the example he set for others to follow, will in some measure soften the great and irreparable loss they have sustained,” said Mr H. E. Niven, the acting-chairman of the Southland Hospital Board at yesterday’s meeting of the board. "As a member of this board since 1919 and as its chairman since 1922 Mr Matheson’s work is well known to you all; that it was a labour of love to him goes without saying. His interest in the sick and infirm in our hospital was manifested long before he became a member of the board, and his regular visits to our institutions brought a ray of sunshine and hope to many a lonely and weary inmate who will now sadly miss his cheery smile and word of comfort. "Much of the success which has attended the Waipiata Sanatorium is undoubtedly due to his enthusiasm and energy. As we know, Mr Matheson looked upon this branch of our activities as being of the greatest importance to the whole community, while the good results obtained at the sanatorium gave him the utmost satisfaction. “With reference to our proposed'new hospital at Kew, we deeply regret that he has not lived to see the culmination of his efforts for the better housing and care of our sick. His keen desire was to see an establishment worthy of the district, one which would lead to economy in administration and add to the comfort and welfare of the patients, and at the same time, he never forgot the interests of the ratepayer, and we as a board deplore the fact that he is no longer with us to help us with his ripe judgment to solve the problems that confront us in connection with Kew. “As a citizen of Invercargill, nay, of Southland, I need say little. He was loved and respected by all who had the good fortune to come into contact with him. He was truly a friend to the friendless. He went about doing good, not letting his right hand know what his left hand was doing, hating publicity, striving only to carry out the high ideals he had set for his life. He helped those that needed help, gave advice to those that asked for it without any thought of thanks or reward. His life should be an inspiration to the youth of to-day, as he has shown that without any special advantages success and the love and esteem of a whole community can be gained by integrity, sincerity, and uprightness of life and character. His passing leaves a blank in our public and private life that will not readily be filled. It remains for us who are left behind to endeavour to the best of our ability to follow the example he has set before us, and to work faithfully and well for the good of others. Of him it can be truly said:

‘Lives of great men all remind us We can make our lives sublime, And departing, leave behind us, Footprints on the sands of time.’ “I beg to move that this board places on record its profound and sincere regret for the great loss it sustains by the death of its chairman, Mr John Matheson, and that a letter be sent to Mrs Matheson conveying the sincere sympathy of the board and staff to herself and family in the irreparable loss they have sustained.” The motion was seconded by Mr Colin Robertson, the oldest member of the board, who said that he had known Mr Matheson for fifty years. Mr Robertson spoke feelingly of his friendship with the late chairman and paid a very high tribute to his administrative ability, his business acumen, his integrity and his charity. The motion was carried with members standing in silence. The secretary (Mr T. Pry de) read telegrams which he had received from hospital boards, public bodies, former servants of the board and others expressing deep regret at Mr Matheson’s death and sympathy with his relatives.