A SAD ENDING.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 7458, 7 July 1891, Page 2

A SAD ENDING.

Thb case of Gibson K. Turton, whose death in a Wellington backyard was montioned in our telegrams last week, is another instance of the rapid downfall of a man of education. The deoeased was a highly educated man of good birth and respectable connection, as will be gathered from tho following particulars furnished by a young man named Eendle to a reporter for the Wei lington Post :— " The deceased was the son of a missionary, and was born in Auokland, his age being 64. After receiving a firstclass education, he studied for the law, and eventually commenced practice as a barrister and solicitor in Dunodin, where he soon made a name for himself. He was a man of considerable talent, and was at one time looked upon as one of the rising men of Dunedin. Mr Prendergast, now the Chiof Justice of tho colony, was practising in that city when young Turton made his start in the legal world. Mr Turton was for a long timo in partnership with Mr John Hyde Harris. In due course he married a daughter of the Hon. J. B. Batbgate, and six children were born of the union. Unfortunately, ho gavo way to intemperance, and his descent in the sooial •cale was rapid. He left Dunedin ruined, as the result of Mb own folly, and for some years before his doath he had resided in Sydney and various parts of this colony, earning a precarious livelihood hy oxecutine odd jobs in various legal establish - ments. At ono timo ho lived in Gisborne, and while thoro ho joined the Salvation Army, and conducted himself with propriety for a while. Tho craving for alcohol was, however, so great that he soon fell again. About a fortnight ago Bendlo mot him in Wellington, and as ho was in straitened circumstances Bendlo goodnaturodly allowed him to occupy a portion of his tenement at tho rear of the Victoria Restaurant. The doceasod continued to resido there up to tbo timo of his death. Bondle took his meals at tho Victoria Restaurant, but Turton visitod some other establishment whon he felt hungry. For some weeks the doccascd had not boen in good health, and his condition was so bad that Rendle told him that if an improvement did not tako placo by tho morning he ought to get into the Hospital." Unfortunately, Rondle did not do so, with the rosult that tho unfortunate man was found dead in the yard next morning. Turton was not short of monoy, as ho had money on him when ho diod, and a receipt for £5 4s 7d, paid on a policy for £500 on his life, issuod by the London and Lancashire InßUranco Company. His life was also heavily insured with tho A.M.P. Company. The Post says:— Turton had too sisters married in Wellington, and a brother of his io an officor of the Land Transfer Department. Ono of the late Mr Bathgato's daughters is married to Mr Justice Donniston, who is theroforo a brother-in-law of tho deceased. Turton was at one time a loading athlete in Dunedin, and his oxcellont performance in tho fust erickot match played by an Otago eleven against All England will be romembored by some of our rcadors. Deceased wus also an enthusiastic volunteer in Dunedin. At ouo time ho was Provincial Solicitor of Otago." A sadder ending of such a man can hardly bo imaginod, and should act as a warning to others who aro following his footsteps, and proving in their own persons the truth of tho old provorb, " Facilis dtcensits Avrrni."

MrjJ. Chad wick notifies m another column that ho will hold s sale of sundries at his mart, Taupo Quay to-morrow at 1.30. A general moeting of tho Wanganui Rifles will bo hold thiß ovoning after purado at the Drill Hnll, the principal business boing tho soled ion of a captain. Tenders aro invited until 4 p,m. on 20th July for the erection of a church at Jerusalem. Plans, otc, may bo inspected at Mr F. M. Spurdle's ofllce, Sash and Door Factory. An adjourned summoned meeting of Court Rhoderick Dhu, A.0.F., will bo held at the Court Room, Steam Packet Hotel, at 8 p.m. on Wodnesday. The annual meeting of tho Wanganui Orphanage ond Children's Homo will bo held at the Home, Campboll-street at 3 p.m. on Thursday. Next Friday night tho Harding Assembly conclude their first quarter, and it has boon decidod by the committee to mako a long night of it. The usual Ball will tako placo on tho 4th of September. Mr Keosing holds a sale to-m orrow, of household furnituro and effects in Wilson street, at the residence of Mr Hamer, who is leaving the district. The catalogue embraces a lot of useful articles of furniture, as well as a carpenter's bench and tools, also two goats, &ct. Tho salo commonces at 12.30 p.m. The muni fornightlj meeting of tho Sons and Daughther of Temperanoe Society was held last evening, at which four now members were initial od, and one candidate proposed for admission. As usual, after the transaction of business, a number of songs, readings, etc., wero contributed by members. Thoy dio hard ! The members of tho Upper Chamber don't usk for much. They wish to elect their own Speaker, to have tho provision struck out whioh requiros a year to iuterpoae before a member is eligible for re-appointment, and, above all, thoy would consider it a "graceful concession" to allow them all to retain their free railway passes, even after they havo coased to be Councillors. It is a shameless proposition ! — Napior News. Mr W. Pinches has made special arrangemonts with those versatile artists Mr and Mrs Foley, to give two their drawing room entertainments in tho Oddfellowß' Hall on Thursday and Friday eveningß, and an afternoon performance on Saturday for school children and families. "Life's Looking Glass " is the title of the very unique form of two hours' merriment given, in which Mr and Mrs Eoley have appeared with great success throughout Australasia. To be successful in any undertaking, one need only possess a certain amount of talent — but this must be backed up by an agreeable and obliging disposition, such qualifications boing indispensable to success. From a parlour dance the mammoth class now conducted by the popular Misses Lockott emerged", and at the present time those young ladies have the gratification to know that, through their untiring efforts to pleuao and instruct, they have the monopoly. The ÜBUal weekly dance t&kos place at the Institute Hall to-night. This is the peroration of Sir Charles Dilke's speech in the Forest of Dean :—: — " Even the knowledge of undeserved opprobrium, losa of congenial work, domestic peace.and the frightful misery of a few weeks in 1885, leaves, thanks— humbly speaking — to her who sits besides me, no trace of care behind, I can say, with Gcrthe's hero, ' Ido not know what kingship is like j but I have won a happiness of which I am not worthy, and which I would not barter against any in the universe." ' The Defence Authorities have authorised a further expenditure of £12 on tho local rifle range, which will be chiefly used in providing canvas target accomodation at tho short distance range. On account of there being no prisoners in tho local gaol, the works, which are always carried out by prison labour under the superintendence of Mr Beasley, gaoler, have had to be stopped, Although chis is probably detrimental to tho intorests of shootists, it speaks well for the general morality of tho district. Our readers will learn with regret the death of Mr B. N. Manley, for many years connected with th" commercial department of this journal, during which time the deceased gentleman made many and sincere friends in Wanganui. Mr Manley was an •nthusiastic and worthy member of the Masonic fraternity and filled the office of B.W.M. of Lodgo Tongariro 705 E.C. in Wanganui. For some years the deceased resided in Wellington where he engaged in business on his own account. He leaves a widow and 0. son and daughter to monm their lois, to whom we tender our sincere Bvmpathy.

Messrs J. and D. MoFarlane notify having received a largo consignment of calicoes, and sheetings, with other largo shipments to follow. A good opportunity presents itself of obtaining valuable suburban land at a low figure, owing to the Trustees of the Hair Estate, St. John's Hill, having given Messrs F. R. Jackson and Co. instructions to sell twenty-two sections, containing from two to ton acres each. Tho sale will take place at the St. Hill Street yards at noon on Saturday, Bth August, and as the Trustees intend to close accounts, the land is offered for honafidc sale. A meeting of the proposed Co-operalive Association on this coast was held in the Firo Brigade Hal> yesterday afternoon, thero being a number of settlers present. A prospectus of the West Coast Farmers' Co-operative Association of the North Island of Mew Zealand was passed. Provisional Directors were elected representing tho districts of Wanganui, Waverley, Palmerston North, Feilding, Halcombe, Marton, Bulls, Carnarvon, and Sandon. Provisional bankers ! Bank of Now South Wales. It waß decidod to have the office of tho Association in Wanganui, and Mr Walter Smail was appointed Secretary pro tern, and Mr John Cotter, of Palnierston North, was appointed Chaifmanof DirectctJ. The tenth annual mooting of the New Zealand Co-operative Association waa held at Christchurch on Saturday afternoon. The Directors' report which was adopted, stated that the profits for tho year, £12,194, were allotted as followe : — A 7 per cent, dividend and 4 per cent, bonus on the paid up capital, a 4 percent. bonuß on purchases and 25 per cent, on commissions ; £1500 was conveyed to the reserve fund, 4 per cent. g> anted on wages, 26 per cent, written off tho office furniture, and the balance, £2310, carried forward. A proposal te purchase a steanioi in conjunction with the South Canterbury Farmers' Cooperative Association, for the Associations' trade with Australia and Calcutta, was favourably received by the meeting. Shipmasters will, no doubt, thoroughly appreciate Mr Thomas Thatcher's thoughtful suggestion to tho Harbour Board, of which ho is Chairman, as to the utility and noceisity for having a notice-board outsido tho Harbour Board ofßco, on which should bo notified as they ocour any material changes in the river channel, or on tho bar. Tho Board at onco agreed to the Chairman's sensible suggestion, and for the future shipmasters will only havo to oonsult the notice-board to find if any alteration of tho bar or river channel hai taken place. If a copy of the daily telegraphed weather reports wore postod on tho same board it would be a great convenience to shipmasters and others, who now have to go up to the Telegraph Office to inßpoct the roport.