OBITUARY.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIV, Issue IV, 27 January 1900, Page 176

OBITUARY.

THE LATE J. S. GUTHRIE. Mr John Steele Guthrie, for many years manager of the Christchurch "Press,'’ died at. Christchurch on the 16th inst. deeply regretted by a wide circle of friends. Speaking of deceased the "Press” says:—To his fellow workers on the staff of this journal and in every branch of the “Press” Company's establishment his death has caused a keen sense of personal bereavement. From the youngest boy in the office to the oldest servant of (he company he gained the personal affection and unswerving loyalty of all. To his ripe judgment, wise counsel and unvarying personal friendship his co-workers owe more than they can adequately express, and there is not one among them whose heart is not full to-day. In John Steele Guthrie Christchurch has lost a citizen of high-minded, gentle disposition, whose pen and influence were ever exerted in what he honestly believed to be the cause of right. The Press of the colony has lost a leader whose example was in accordance with the highest ideals of the profession. That example will live after him, while his kindly character and gentle disposition will be long cherished iu affectionate remembrance. ® ® ® THE LATE LIEUT.-COL. MURRAY. Very deep regret was expressed in town to-day when it became known that Lieut.-Colonel Thomas L. Murray, General Manager of the Bank of New Zealand in Auckland, was dead. Mr Murray (who was more generally referred to under his military title) died somewhat suddenly about a quarter to eleven o'clock this morning- at his residence in Grafton Hoad, in his (list year. He had been in a bad state of health for the past few weeks, having had a severe stroke of paralysis. He. however, became better, and as late as yesterday lie was out driving. On December 18th last- Mr Murray was seized with a sudden attack of paralysis of the brain, and never recovered. Dr. Knight attended him frequently for this complaint. This morning about ten o'clock he was seized with another attack, which proved fatal, and he passed away in an unconscious condition. Dr. Williams was called in during the morning. Prior to the seizure Mr Murray seemed bright and cheerful, so that his end seemed to come with all the more suddenness. SKETCH OF HIS CAREER. The late Mr Murray was a native of Perthshire. Scotland, and arrived in New Zealand upwards of 37 years ago, landing at Auckland about the end of 1862. In the following year the Waikato war broke out, and Mr Murray, like all the other able bodied Aucklanders, had to do his share of soldiering. He was a member of the first-class militia, and became a sergeant in his company. He went to the front when hostilities commenced, and was stationed at Drury and vicinity. where he experienced all the hardships of campaigning. At the close of the war Mr Murray returned to town, and was employed for a time in Mr Chapman’s bookseller's shop. About the year 1866 he entered the services of the Bank of New Zealand, and was in the inspector’s department for a time in Auckland. Subsequently- he was sent to the Thames as the Bank’s agent at Grahamstown. 1868, just after the opening up of the Thames goldfields. Grahamstown afterwards became the chief and only office of the Bank at the Thames, and Mr Murray was appointed manager of the Thames branch. He remained at the Thames in that position for about 25 years, an I became closely identified with the progress of the goldfields district. About 1’893 he took up the duties of assistant inspector of the Bank in Auckland, and in 1894 he was appointed manager of the Bank of New Zealand at Dunedin. After being there for about two years he returned to Auckland and became manager of the Auckland branch, with supervision over the goldfields district, and oceu-

pi d this position till the time of his death. AN ENTHUSIASTIC VOLUNTEER. It was probably in his capacity as a most enthusiastic and energetic officer of volunteers that Mr Murray was best known to the general public. His early military experiences in the days of the Waikato served him in good stead during his volunteer career. It was at the Thames that he became interested in the volunteer movement, about the year 1868. He was for a time an officer in the Thames Naval Volunteers, holding the rank of Ensign. About the year IS7I he was asked to take over the command of the Thames Rifle Rangers, which company had fallen into a very unsatisfactorycondition. This he did, and succeeded in infusing a great deal of life into the volunteering movement at the Thames. He became captain of the company, which changed its name to the No. 1 Thames Scottish. Subsequently the No. 3 Hauraki Rifles was reorganised, at the request of Major Cooper, by Captain Murray, and became the No. 2 Thames Scottish. These two companies were made a battalion, and, under the energetic care of Capt. Murray, the Thames Scottish Rifles became one of the finest and smartest volunteer corps in the colony. In 1878 Capt. Murray was promoted to the rank of Major, and was given the local command of the Thames volunteerdistrict, under Major Wither, who was then in command of the Auckland volunteer district. About three years ago, when the Auckland No. 1 Rifle Battalion was formed. Major Murray, at the request of the Defence authorities, took command of the Battalion, and ever since He had worked hard to make our garrison rifles a strong and efficient body. About 18 months ago he was promoted to be Lieutenant-Colonel. The deceased officer had the interests of volunteering deeply at heart and spent a good deal of time, as well as money, in the cause. The deceased gentleman was of a genial nature and was a very popular and highly-respected citizen and a valuable servant. of the Bank of New Zealand. He was associated with various societies of a philanthropical nature, having been ever of a charitable and generaus disposition. Mr Murray leaves a widow and three children. His only son is in the New Zealand Insurance office at Wellington, and one of the daughters is the wife of Mr J. W. Stewart, solicitor, of Auckland. The interment will be private,. at deceased's own wish, given expression to by him a few days ago.