OBITUARY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10430, 9 April 1912, Page 2

OBITUARY.

MR ISAAC WILSON. Mr Isaac Wilson, an old resident of Canterbury, passed away at Bra nthholme, Sumner, on Sunday. He arrived in New Zealand from Wray, Westmoreland, England, about 1854. His family resided lor several years in a slab hut at St Albans, liis brothers, Thomas and Edward, with himself, finding employment in the Papanui bush. When work failed there, they moved on to Kaiapoi over an unbeaten track, unU. the brothel's for several years cut with hand saws many thousands of feet of scantling and boards in the Maori bush. Mr Isaac Wilson next turned his attention to providing for the passenger trafllo, lirst with an Australian ear with a horso in the shafts and un outrigger, and next by a three-horso coach. Leaving the road, Mr Wilson turned his attention to grain threshing and Hour milling, and became a considerable purchaser of wheat for the English market. Ho also took part in the lux industry, but found that it was not a financial success. Ho was the first chairman of the Kaiapoi Woollen Company, a position which he occupied for several years, until liis health broke down and lie was compelled to retire. Ho became connected with the local lload Boards of Maudeville and liangiora and Eyreton in 1868. Ho was for a time a councillor of the Ivuiapoi borough, and. was mainly instrumental in completing the acquisition for that town and the Eyreton district of the presont public cemetery. In 1874 he defeated the member for the Provincial Council for Maudeville, and held the position for some time. In 1877 he was otio of the original members elected for the Ashley County, which never accepted its functions, as tho majority of tlio Council resisted the introduction of a second local taxing power. In 1881 he on tho resignation of Sir Charles Ho wen. as member of-the llouso of Representatives for Kaiapoi district, in defeating: tho Liberal candi- I date. Through ill-health, contracted while the House was in session in Wellington, he was brought home in a precarious condition, and tho doctors gave up hope of saving his life. Though his health returned, he relinquished business, and in 1898, having married his presont wife, lie visited England. He was a staunch supporter of the Methodist Church, having done much to (insist it financially at Kaiapoi and Woodend. Ho took a great interest in temperance matters, and had some experience of licensing committee work, being chairman of the Eyreton committee when one of tho first hotels was closed, and of the Kaiapoi district when four hotels were closed. Ho leaves a widow and iainily of young children.