OBITUARY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19889, 4 March 1920, Page 5

OBITUARY.

GEORGE VESEY STEWART. [Per Press Association-.] TAURANGA, March 3By the death of -Mr George Vese.v Stewart, of Katikati, which occurred to-day at Rotorua, one of the most conspicuous figures m the earlier history of the colony - disappears. The. third sou of Mr Mervyn Stewart, of Matraky House, County 'Tyrone, Ireland, he was born on October I, 1832, and resided with his parents in the North of Ireland till he was twelve years of age. After travelling on the continent, he ultimately settled in the Mountains of Aitmore. About 187-1 ho met in Belfast Mr H. Fa mail, agont for the Auckland Provincial Government, and as a. result Mr Stewart came to Auckland m that year and succeeded in making an agreement to bring settlers to New Zealand. Number one Katikati party came in tho Carisbrook Castle and the Rover Castle. They were followed by number two party in the Lady Jocelyn and the Ilalcione. A Parliamentary paper of f&7B contains interesting correspondence regarding this party. Air Stewart returned to London in 1880, and brought out the first party of To Puke settlers in the Lady Jocelyn. After unsuccessfully contesting the Tauranga electorate, Mr Stewart was elected first Mayor of Tauranga in 1882. After the passing of a. special Act of Parliament, Mr Stewart ami the late Mr John Duncan, of the firm of Levin and Co., Wellington (who was a member of the To Puke party), signed an agreement with tho Government, on behalf of a local company, to construct a railway from Rotorua to Tauranga. After several negotiations locally, Mr Stewart proceeded to London in 1883 to form a company (here to construct the lino. This was done, and a provisional contract was made, but tho undertaking fell through in consequence of the Tarawora eruption. Not till 1888 did Air Stewart return to New Zealand, and lie then settled on a farm at Katikati. where be had resided over sinye, faking an active interest in all local matters. As chairmn of the Katikati Rond Board lie hoids a record for New Zealand. At the time of his death he was still chairman, and also a member of the Tauranga County Council, Harbour Board and Charitable Aid Board. DR LAKE[Per Press Association,] WELLINGTON, March 4. Dr Lake, of the s.s. Tofua. was found dead in his cabin a week before the steamer reached California. On the last trip he had been ailing. The body was buried at sea. Dr Lake, who was forty-six, left a widow and two children, who reside at San Francisco.