OBITUARY.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVIII, Issue VII, 13 February 1897, Page 192

OBITUARY.

QUITE a gloom was cast over Napier on Saturdaylast when it became known that Captain Pottinger, of the barque ‘ Rangitikei,’ had met with a sudden and violent death. It appears that he noticed a heavy sea coming, and called out to the men to save themselves. At the moment a tremendous wave struck the vessel, and he was seen to clutch the rigging. When this had cleared, his son, who was on board, and some of the crew saw that he had been swept off his feet and was lying lifeless on the deck. Captain Pottinger was 54 years of age, and a widower. He had been about 20 yearsin the employ of the New Zealand Shipping Company, and was well-known and respected in every seaport in the colony. The news of his sudden death will be received with deep regret by all who knew him. Much sympathy is felt with his son in this sad bereavement. On Saturday on all the vessels in port and at the houses of business flags were half-mast high as a mark of respect to the deceased gentleman. The death of Mrs Clara Davies, of ‘ Kempsey,’ Owen’s Road, Epsom, was somewhat sudden last week. The lady was the widow of the Rev. Edmund R. Davies, who came out to this colony as principal of one of the Southern Colleges. Mr Davies only lived six weeks after his arrival in Auckland. Mrs Davies has resided in Epsom for twenty-one years and at the time of her death was sixty-four years of age. Mr Moor-Hunter, a well-known settler at Hawera, died last week at the age of sixty-two years. An accident occurred in St. George’s Bay last week to Captain J. A. Bewicke, which terminated fatally. This old shipmaster was well known in shipping circles. He was on the s.s. ‘ Scotchman,’ and was struck by the bowsprit of a stationary yacht which they were passing, knocked overboard, and swept down the harbour by the ebb-tide. He was rescued by a boat trom the Melanesian steamer ‘ Southern Cross,’, but expired immediately. General regret was expressed at Captain Bewicke’s untimely death. He leaves a widow and one daughter, Mr W. Clarke, chemist, of Victoria-street West, being his son-in-law. On the sad tidings of Captain Bewicke’s death being circulated, the whole of the ships in port hoisted their flags half-mast as a mark of respect to his memory.

Much sympathy is expressed in Auckland with the relations of the Rev. R. Laishley, of View Point, Mount Eden, who died suddenly on Friday afternoon at his own residence. He was as well as usual in the morning, and arranged to take three services at the Congregational Union on Sunday. About 2 p.m., however, he was seized with hemorrhage of the lungs through the bursting of a blood vessel. Dr. Roberton was called in, who ordered Mr Laishley to bed. Later on Mr Laishley called for a cup of tea, and seemed better, but shortly afterdrinking the tea, about 4 p.m., he turned on his side and died. He was much respected and generally liked, and his death is much regretted not only by Congregationalists, but by many other people. Dr. Laishley, of Auckland,

solicitor, and Mr Charles Laishley, of the Union Bank of Australia, Wellington, are his two sons. Mrs Spier, of Sydney, is his daughter. The Rev. R. Laishley was Minister of the Congregational Church at Peartree Green, near Southampton. He came to New Zealand in iB6O under the auspicies of the Congregational Colonial Missionary Society. After some time he went over to Melbourne, returning to take charge of the Congregational Church at the Thames. Next he came to Devonport, there celebrating his golden wedding. He retired from active work, though he has been most courteous and obliging in filling empty pulpits whilst their occupants were away for a holiday. The funeral was very largely attended, and took place at the Purewa Cemetery.