OBITUARY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XC, Issue 13265, 20 April 1907, Page 3

OBITUARY.

• : KING COBBLER." United Press Association—Per Electric - - Telegraph—Copyright. SYDNEY, April 19. The' death is reported from Narrabri of "King Cobbler," an aboriginal identity, at the a<re of 100 years. He was a strict teetotaller, the fact of his being hoeussed when, a young. man being given as the reason for his life-long abstinence E. M. SMITH, -M.H.11. - A DEPLORABLE ACCIDENT. Per Press Association. NEW PLYMOUTH, April .19. Mr' Edward M-tcalf Smith, M.H.R. for Taraniki, died ;.-:■ the hospital to-night, as the resuit- of the railway .accident tins morning. He.Lad b:on in ill-health for .so:ne time, but felt considerably better tli; S morning, and was attending to some business. Mr .Smith boarded the 11 o'clock tram at Eliott street for town, standing on the carriage platform. As the train was rounding a curve he was seen by a letter-car-rier on the road to fall between the carriage*:—it is presumed during a fit of giddiness. Miraculously he fell between the rails and the wheels did not pass over him, bub he received severe bruises andlaceration of the', head and face, being dragged some distance by the undergear. Ilia accident was not noticed by anyone on the train. When picked up Mr Smith was conscious, and his. painful injuries were attended to on the spot. Subsequently he was removed to the hospital in a dazed state. A protracted operation was performed to relieve the concussion, without effect, Mr iSmith succumbing in tiie presence of hir> family shortly before 8 o'clock. Mr Smith represented New Plymouth from IS9I till. 1896 and the Taranaki electoral from 190 C to tin tint?, of Li- death. He wa* 68 years of age; a. Taranaki pioneer, and one of the -province's most enterprising spirits. With the efforts to develop tlii iror.sand industry and peiroienm, he had been prominently connected for more than 4-1 year?; indeed, almost his whale life and fortune were dedicated to the former. With the removal of •" Little E. M. " New Plymouth loses its moct familiar figure