OBITUARY.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XIX, Issue IX, 21 August 1897, Page 272

OBITUARY.

A SHOCKING fatality occurred about 5 o’clock on Monday morning when the Moturoa Hotel, at the breakwater in New Plymouth, was burned to the ground. The loss of the property is nothing compared to the fact that two lives were lost in the conflagration. Captain Turner, master of the New Plymouth Harbour Dredge, and Mr William Drader, an expert at the Petroleum Company’s Works, both being boarders in the hotel, were burned to death. They were both evidently suffocated in their sleep, and thus suffered a painless death. On the following afternoon the remains of the poor victims were buried in the Te Henui cemetery. The cortege was long and representative, showing the esteem in which the deceased were held in the district. Mr Drader, being a member of the Egmont Lodge of Masons, was accorded a Masonic burial. Preceding the hearse marched the members of the craft, and next to the hearse came a carriage containing Mr Samuel (Chairman of Directors), Major Parris (director), Mr H. Shepherd (secretary of the Petroleum Company), and Mr O. Carrington. Next came a carriage containing Messrs H. McLister, C. Menzies, C. Webberley, and J. Gilbanks, the deceased’s fellow employees in the Petroleum Works. The pallbearers were Bros. T. Blanckett, S. W. G. Blanckett, J. W. Wainwright, B. Weale, W. Jury, J. W. and E. Sole, S.D. The hearse containing Captain Turner’s remains came in order after a few other carriages. The pall-bearers were Messrs J. Fraser, T. Inch, G. Connett, Brokenshire, Lindsay, and W. Vile, members of the Harbour Board staff, to which the late Captain Turner was attached. The burial service was conducted by the Rev. C. H. Garland, and Bro. J. Asher, P.M., gave the impressive Masonic service. The coffins were covered with wreaths.

Another of the pioneer settlers of New Plymouth has passed away to that bourne whence no traveller returns in the person of Mrs Mary Ann Grylls, who died at her residence, St. Aubyn-street, on Friday, having attained the venerable age of 87. Mrs Grylls and her husband came from the south of England, and were among the earliest pioneers to settle in Taranaki. The deceased lady, who was widely known and greatly respected by a large circle of friends, leaves behind her five daughters and two sons, all settled in this district, and numerous grand and great grandchildren. The daughters are Mesdames J. Jury, T. Leedom, W. Cottier, W. Black, and Jas. Loveridge, and the sons Messrs J. Grylls, and R. Grylls, the well-known host of the Oakura Hotel.

Another of the old Christchurch identities passed away last week at St. Alban’s —Mrs Frances Caverhill, who has only survived her husband since April last. Mrs Caverhill arrived in the Colony in 1850 in one of the first four ships—the ‘ Cressy.’ Mrs Caverhill was married in 1852, and accompanied her husband to the well-known Motunau station, and afterwards to Hawkeswood and Highfield, where during her residence many acts of hospitality and kindness were shown to high and low, rich and poor. She leaves four sons and three daughters, and a very large circle of sorrowing friends.

Mr James Sinclair, one of the first settlers in Blenheim, and commonly known as the ‘ Father of Blenheim,’ has just passed away at the age of 79. From the earliest days of the province he was intimately connected with all movements of a public nature, and was a member of the Provincial Council until the abolition of provinces in 1879. Mrs Sinclair predeceased him by two years. He leaves a grown-up family, consisting of four sons— Messrs James, John, William, and David Sinclair; and one daughter—Mrs Sutherland McAlister.

The death of Mr Lionel L. Harris, which took place at his residence on Wellington Terrace on August 6th, has deprived Wellington of one of its most prominent and useful citizens. The deceased gentleman was born in Liverpool in 1851, his father dying shortly after his birth. At the age of two he and his mother sailed for New South Wales, where he afterwards began his career in the drapery trade, but hearing of the great gold rush on the West Coast of New Zealand, he abandoned his business in order to try his luck on the goldfields, and his experiences in the early days there, although not crowned with success, were very varied and exciting. Not meeting with success, he returned to New South Wales, but only for a brief period, as he left again shortly after for Kaikoura, Marlborough, and after storekeeping for a time there, he went to the Canter-

bury district. In 1875, he came to Wellington, starting business as a financier, and has remained in the city ever since, taking great interest in all public affairs, having been a member of the City Council, where his great financial experience proved invaluable to the Finance Committee, a Hospital Trustee, a member of the Charitable Aid Board, Chairman of the Fire Brigade Committee for many years, in which position he did much to improve that body, and Chairman of Directors of the New Zealand Times Company. He was also President of the Wellington Hebrew congregation for several years. The great respect in which Mr Harris was held by all classes of the community, in private as well as in business life, was evidenced by the very large attendance at his funeral, which tcok place on Monday morning last at 10 o’clock. The Fire Brigade acted as pall bearers, the members of the City Council attending in a body. The interment took place at the Karori Cemetery, the Rev. H. Van Staveren officiating at the graveside. In addition to many lovely wreaths sent by private friends, beautiful wreaths were also sent by the Hospital trustees and officials, the Evening Post proprietors, the Underwriters’ Association, the members of the Central Club, commercial and practical staff New Zealand Times and New Zealand Mail, the directors of the New Zealand Times Company, and the literary staff of the Times and Mail. Mrs Harris, who was a daughter of Mr Isaac Phillips, has also received a very large number of telegrams and letters expressive of deep sympathy in her sad bereavement.

Very great regret was felt in Wellington at the somewhat sudden death of Mrs Swain son, which took place at her residence in Fitzherbert Terrace last Tuesday. The deceased lady had for many years conducted a private school at Thorndon, and was universally loved and esteemed. A very large number of her old pupils attended her funeral, and a large congregation assembled at St. Paul’s pro-Cathedral to attend the choral service sung in connection with the funeral before the interment at Karori Cemetery. The choir sang Spohr’s wellknown anthem, ‘ Blest are the Departed,’ the solo parts being feelingly sung by Miss Campbell, Dr. Fyffe, and Mr John Prouse, the accompanying service being conducted by the Ven. Archdeacon Fancourt and the Rev. T. H. Sprott.

Information was received in Napier last Friday of the death of Mr Matthew Miller, who had gone for a holiday to Waituna West, near Feilding, and while jumping a horse over a log was thrown. His neck was broken, and in a few minutes he was dead. Deceased was the second son of the late Mr M. R. Miller, of Napier, and was in the office of Messrs Williams and Kettle. He was only twenty years of age, and will be greatly missed. The deepest sympathy is felt for his mother and family in their trouble. The ‘ Dead March ’ from Saul was played in the Cathedral on Sunday night, and the Dean of Waiapu made feeling references to his untimely death. As the deceased was a member of the F Battery, he was accorded a military funeral, which took place on Tuesday last.

Very largely attended indeed was the funeral of the late Mr Robert McCullough, J.P., of Ardmore. It took place at Papakura Cemetery, and the service was conducted by the Rev. T. Norrie, both in the house and at the grave, where friends from Ardmore, Auckland, Clevedon, Remuera, Papakura, Papakura Valley, and Papatoitoi Lad assembled. The deceased was greatly respected, dying at the advanced age of 69 years. He leaves a widow, four daughters—one of whom is married —and three sons.

News has been received from England of the death of Mrs Mary Steadman Aldis, wife of Mr William Steadman Aldis, formerly professor of mathematics in the Auckland University College. They went Home for the sake of the lady’s health, but unfortunately she was in no wise benefited by the change, but, after a long and painful illness, died on June 25th at Stone-in-Oxney, Kent. Mrs Aldis was the eldest daughter of the late Rev. W. Robinson, of Cambridge, England, and had a number of friendsand acquaintances in Auckland. An Auckland gentleman thus writes of her : I felt the highest esteem for her, and for the independent and outspoken way in which she expressed and vindicated her opinions, as well as for her admirable style of writing English. I know of few writers whose style is more lucid, more forcible, and also more concise. Well, her troubles and controversies are all over now, and most sincerely do I say requiescat in pace!’