OBITUARY.

Colonist, Volume XLIX, Issue 11895, 27 March 1907, Page 5 (Supplement)

OBITUARY.

DEATH OF MR. JOHN TINLINE. On February 26th there passed away at Warwiok House a notable colonist iv the person of Mr John Tinline,- who has been closely identified with Nelson and Marlborough tttTairs from the foundation of this settlement. Mr Tinline, moreover, was well known throughout the Colony, and he is one of the last of the hand of distinguished men who came to tbe Colony in tha early forties. Mr Tinline reached the advanced age of eighty-six, and though ie was apparent of late to his frieuds tbat he was breaking up, he kept about till a week or two ago, when he took to his bed, and gradually sank, passing peacefully away after a considerable period of unconsciousness. The following authentic account of Mr Tinline'fl career (from Cyclopaedia of New Zealand) contains the mam faots, but his friends will always remember the 'vivid descriptions of the doings of the early days tbat tbe deceased gentleman was always ready to recount :— "The late Mr John Tinline was born in Jedburgh, Scotland, in 1821. He was educated at the local Grammar School.under the Rev Alexander Uarnett, and, as a young man, passed tti res years in the office of Kutherford and Thomson, solicitors, 1 Jedburgb, Mr Tinline left h : s native town on the 3rd of September, 1839, iv the ship "Bengal," for Sydney, to join his brother, Mr George Tinline, who had previously emigrated there as an accountant in the Bank of Australasia. On his arrival in Sydney, "ia January, 1840, Mr Tinline found -that his brother had been moved to a branoh of the bank in Adelaide, so he lost no time in taking passage for that town. After spending a few months on the survey staff, in Adelaide, Jbe emigrated to Wellington, New Zealand, where he arrived in September, 1840, -and where his cousin, Mr Robert Waitt, was in business as a merchant. In October of the same year Mr Tinline joined the,.late Major Durie, and the pattners opened up business as storekeepers on Lambton Quay. Early in 1842, when the settlement of Nelson was under way, Mr Tinline, at the instance o( his partner and. Mr Waitt, went to Nelson with a cargo of goods, to be in time for the arrival of tbe first settlers. He established a general merchant's business in Nelson, under the name of Waitt and Company, but unfortunately in November, 1842, the warehouse belonging to himself and •Major Durie in Wellington was totally 'destroyed by fire, by which the partners lost all tboy possessed. Mr Tinline then remained in Nelson for some time to wind up the business of Waitt and Company. Early in 1844 Governor Fitzroy arrived in Nelson, and in making his appointmeots, selected Mr Tinline for the position of Clerk of the Magistrate's Court, and Native Interpreter. Mr Tinline remained in the Government service until the end of 1852. He filled several important offices, and did his share of arduous work of building up the prosperity of the province. In 1853 Mr Tinline turned his attention to sheepf arming, which he subsequently carried on on an extensive scale, and he was extremely successful in all his undertakings, lie has owned several large runs, such as Weld's Hill, Careen Hills, and Ferniehurat, in Marlborough, and Lyndon in Amuri. Lyndon contained, upwards of eighty thousand acres, about fifty thousand acres of which were freehold,, and the whole, including forty thousand sheey, was sold by Mr Tinline to Messrs D and A Macfarlane of Amuri. Mr Tinline was also fche holder for the past ten years of the Waugapeka run, which was sold to the Government recently. In 1881 the Gladstone run, Upper Awatiri, was acquired by Mr Tinline. During his life Mr Tinline has aways taken a lii'ge interest in the leading questions of tbe day, but on account of the extent of his personal enterprises, he has been unable to spare the time demanded by an active part in politics. However, when he resided in Amuri, he was elected Chairman of the Bench of Magistrates, and was also Chairman of the Road Board and School Committee, and was the chief means of getting the railway extended as far as Culverden, and tbe telegraph to the Waiau. Mr Tinline has taken a liberal and practical interest in education, and has founnded three scholarships bearing his name, two for the boys and gitls of Nelson and Marlborough. to enable them to attend the. Nelson Collages, and one for the University of New Zealand, open to all competitors. In later years, while on a visit to Scotland, Mr Tinline presented his native place, Jedburgb.with a public park, and in turn was presented with the freedom of the town and other souvenirs of his memorable visit. Mr Tinline as known throughout New Zealand was a man of generosity and kindly feeling, and although of a retiring disposition his life has been a strenuous one, full of hard work and early reverses, which have been surmounted by indomitable will." When first living in Nelson, Mr Tinline had his home where Mr Luxford's reidence now stands in the Wood, and he farmed the flat about Milton street extending as far as Mr John Sharp's present residence. He bad a Maori living at his home, "and he early became a Maori scholar "and interpreter, a fact which led to his taking part in much of the eventful history of that time. In company with a Maori boy, he was the first white settler to go from Nelson to Wairau by way of the Wangamoa. They came out on to the stream which now bears his name, and following tbat, crossed the Felorua just below where tbe cart bridge now spans tbe stream. 'At the time of the Maori disturbances he went up the Wanganui river on a mission from the Government (which proved abortive), and, taking bis life in his hands, he was one of the first Europeans to walk from Wanganui by the sea coast to Wellington. As Sir Joseph Ward mentioned at the opening of the new Post Office, Mr Tinline was the last remaining trustee of those who received tbe trust from the New Zealand Company to establish steam communication between Nelson and outside ports, the "Tasmanian Maid" being the vessel purchased. lie was always a supporter of genuine sport, and used to recount how he rode his own horses to < victory in tbe first races ran in I Nelson, the course being a wide one, ' with the Church Hill in the centre. To the day of his death he was Patron of and subscriber to a num- , ber of Athletic and other clubs. In addition to the lands mentioned abcjre, he at one time held large ' areas in Tauranga and Opotiki dis- ] tricts, but these- he sold, and at the > time of his death held only the Wan- : gapaka run (to be cut up by "the \ Government) and the Gladstone run ■ (jointly with Mr S M Neville), » Mr Tinline was the last of the 1 settlers from Nelson who took up the ( first land in the Wairau, and it was ' in view of this fact that he and Mrs * Mowatt were" chosen to hold the t ribbon which the first engine on the ( Blenheim-Seddon railway crossed at £ ;he opening ceremony. £ Mr Tinline was not indiscriminate t in his giving, but be gave band- f 3omely. His foundation of scholar- i ihipa has already been referred to * [ those Jfor Nelson Colleges represent fi ;be sum of £1200 donated), and it t vill be remembered tbat he contri- c suted a sum approaching £l-:0 for t. he iron standards and chains which [race tbe coping of the sea wall to ( be Bocks Road. c For some years Mr Tinline made a i is hime in Nelson at Warwick a louse,- but he made several trips to a he Old Country, and paid occa L ional visits to other parts of the fci 3olony. « Mr Tinline never married, .and his tl elations consist of a sister (Mrs p l urray, of South Australia, son and si iaughter of his brother George ii residing in England), and a nephew, |B

When first living in Nelson, Mr Tinline had his home where Mr Luxford's reidence now stands in the Wood, and he farmed the flat about Milton street extending as far as Mr John Sharp's present residence. He had a Maori living at his home.'aud he early became a Maori scholar "and interpreter, a fact which led to his taking part in much of the eventful history of that time.

In company with a Maori boy, he was the first white settler to go from Nelson to Wairau by way of the Wangamoa. They came out on to the stream which now bears his name, and following that, crossed the Felorua just below where the cart bridge now spans the stream.

'At the time of the Maori disturbances he went up the Wanganui river on a mission from the Government (which provocl abortive), and, taking bis life in his hands, be was one of the first Europeans to walk from Wanganui by the sea coast to Wellington.

As Sir Joseph Ward mentioned at the opening of the new Post Office, Mr Tinline was the last remaining trustee of those who received the trust from the New Zealand Company to establish steam communication between Nelson and outside ports, the "Tasmanian Maid" being the vessel purchased.

He was always a supporter of genuine sport, and used to recount how he rode his own horses to victory in the first races ran in Nelson, the course being a wide one, with the Church Hill in the centre. To the day of his death he was Patron of and subscriber to a number of Athletic and other clubs.

In addition to the lands mentioned abcjve, he at one time held large areas in Tauranga and Opotiki districts, but these he sold, and at the time of his death held only the Wangapaka run (to be cut up by "the Government) and the Gladstone run (jointly with Mr S M Neville), Mr Tinline was the last of the settlers from Nelson who took up the first land in the Wairau, and it was in view of this fact that be and Mrs Mowatt were" chosen to hold the ribbon which the first engine on the Blenheim-Seddon railway crossed at the opening ceremony.

Mr Tinline was not indiscriminate in his giving, but he gave handsomely. His foundation of scholarships has already been referred to (fcboaejfor Nelson Colleges represent the sum of £1200 donated), and it will be remembered that he contributed a sum approaching ;£7'/0 for the iron standards and chains which grace the coping of the sea wall to the Bocks Road.

For some years Mr Tinline made his hime in Nelson at Warwick House, but he made several trips to the Old Country, and paid occa sional visits to other parts of the Colony.

Mr Tinline never married, .and his relations consist of a sister (Mrs Murray, of South Australia, son and daughter of his brother George (residing in England), and a nephew,

Mr JG R Murray, his sister 's son, now on his way to Nelson from Sydney.