IN MEMORIAM.

Westport Times, Volume XX, Issue 3438, 22 June 1886, Page 2

IN MEMORIAM.

ROBERT GILLIES

It is with deep regret that we notice the death of Mv Robert Gillies, late M. S.R. for Brace. A more genuine man or a better colonist never lived. He arrived in the colony about J 853, if we mistake not, as a boy v. ith his father, mother, brothers, and sisters. His father was the late Mr John Gillies, for many years Resident Magistrate of Duuedin, a Scotch Writer of the Signet who had held highly responsible professional positions in the North of Scotland, of which he was a native. Mr T. H. Gillies, the eldest son settled down as a farmer at Warepa, whence after a few years he went back to Dunediu to complete In'slaw studies (commenced in Scotland), as an articled clerk to his father and Mr John Hyde Harris, then practising in partnersbp in Duuedin. Afterwards a successful lawyer, a prominent politician and Minister, and now a Judge of the Supreme Court, the career of Mr Justice Gillies, is well known. Another brother, Mr John LilHe Gillies, settled as a fanner in Tokomariro, entered the Provincial Council, held office in the Otaso Executive, became a member of the House of Representatives for Bruce, and : s now Secretary for the Otago Harbor Board. Mr James (Sillies, another brother, is a leading merchant in ]Sew Caledonia. Robert Gillies, as a youth", joined the survey depai tment in Otago as a cadet, together, we think, with the late Mr Mitchell, of Palmerston, and much about the same time as the present Sur-veyor-Gene-al, Mr McC.errow, joined the department. After qualifying himself, Mr Robert Gillies became a District Surveyor, and in 1861 commenced business on his own account as a land surveyor and estate agent, afterwards joining Mr C. H. Street, now in Auckland (his father-in-law), in establishing the well-known Duuedin thru of Gillies and Street, Mr Robert Gullies was an e .ceedmgly able man, and would have attained a prominent political position had not his health broken down almost immediately after he entered Parliament. A staunch friend, a good citizen, an exemplary husband and father, and a man worthy of the highest respect in every relation of life, Robert Gillies passed to his rest at a comparatively early age, mourned by all who knew him. The cause of death was aneurism of the heart.—WellingtonPost.