OBITUARY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 14320, 24 September 1910, Page 4

OBITUARY.

FRANCIS R. HUTCHINSON. . A private cablegram from Northern Italy to Wellington last week announced the death, on tbo 16th instant, at the age of 73, at Ostariotta, a small village near Lugano, on the Italian lakes, of L)r. Hutchinson, so well known throughout Taranaki. Hr. Hutchinson in his younger days served as a midshipman in the Royal Navy. Leaving this, he went in tor the study of medicine, and, securing his degree, practised for a short time, we believe, in the neighbourhood of London. His restless or adventurous disposition and his strong opinions as to getting the people back to the land did not allow him to remain long in this crowded locality, and he, with his wife and very young family, emigrated to tho Western States of America, taking up new land away beyond civilisation. 'This ended tragically in tho death of his wife. Moving on to Honolulu, the doctor practised his profession lor some tirao in this tropical city, and was there married to the present Mrs. Hutchinson. From Honolulu ho came on to Wellington, whore ho resided for some few years, continuing his medical practice and entering largely into the social life of the city, lecturing and writing constantly on the hobby of his life, physical development and culture, and the evils of the people crowding into the cities instead of developing the land and living tho natural life of the country'. With this ideal ever before him he again sacrificed his profession, and, leaving Wellington, he, on the advice of the late Major Atkinson, cahie to Taranaki in 1887 and took up land in the beautiful valfev of the Taraniouku, near Tarata. ®Ruilding a picturesque house after the model of a Swiss chalet, and surrounding it with a beautiful garden and orchard sloping down to tho Taraniouku River, hero tho doctor and his charming wife kept open house, and tho writer and scores of others hove often "turned in” at the over open doorway and enjoyed tho hospitality and tho companionship of the genial and cultured household.

The doctor placed his services and his house at tho disposal of tho settlors throughout tho Tarata and Puraugi districts, and many a settler’s wife and family and many a young bushman have reason to thank tho doctor and Mrs. Hutchinson for prompt aid and skilful treatment in childbirth, sickness, or accident. At the same time tho spiritual side, was not neglected, the doctor being tho'means of establishing regular services. Having boon licensed as a lay reader of the Anglican Church, be conducted regular services in the Tarata district, and gave great assistance to the clergyman in charge of tho Inglewood Parish in many ways. Disposing of his farm, Dr. and Mrs. Hutchinson came to New Plymouth,, and for some years lived at Vogel town, identifying himself with everything that was brought forward for the betterment of the town and its people, particularly tho young men, never sparing himself if he thought ho could bo of any service in tho moral, physical, and intellectual'uplifting of the youth of the nation. His essays and lectures to young men were widely circulated and read, and in late years ou the Continent of Europe, where ho had come to bo considered as one of the loading authorities on physical development, bis essays were often quoted. Again moving on, ho made a new home for himself, this time in Mrs. Hutchinson’s native place, the city of Basle, Switzerland, and in this quaint and historic town the writer had the great pleasure of renewing old friendships just two years ago, making, a considerable detour for that purpose., The doctor was equally delighted to meet friends from Taranaki, and-plied his visitors for the three days we were together with; innumerable questions as to, ibis and that one of bis many friends and acquaintances in this district, more particularly, of course, as to tho younger ones. , The climate of Basle, it was found, became too severe for them as their years advanced, and about eighteen months ago they transferred their homo to the southern slopes of the Alps, and on the shores of tho Italian lake of Lugano, near to the town of that name. In April last a small party of old Now Plymouth friends visited them, and at that time the doctor, though iny apparently fair health, was causing considerable anxiety to Mrs. Hutchinson, a weak heart being the trouldo. Tho deceased had many good qualities, combined! with a graciousness of manner that stamped bin as one of Nature’s gentlemen, and I feel sure fhat many readers of your paper, particularly in the Inglewood, Tarata. and Purangi districts, as well as in New Plymouth, will feel a personal loss when they bear of tho death of the genial and kindly doctor. W. 11.5. ‘