OBITUARY.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXX, Issue VI, 7 February 1903, Page 389

OBITUARY.

THE LATE M. J. A. EWEN. The late John Alexander Ewen, whose death in London was announced to us by cable last week, was one of the senior members of the well-known firms of Sargood, Butler, Nichol and Ewon, Australia, and Sargood, Son and Ewen, New Zealand. He was born at Laurencekirk, Kireardineshire, Scotland. At an early age he was apprenticed to a draper at Montrose, where he stayed for a time after his apprenticeship. A little while later he secured an appointment with Messrs. Bainbridge and Musehamp, New-castle-on-Tyne. After about three years spent, with this firm he decided to visit Australia, and landed in Melbourne in 1852, where he was almost immediately engaged by the late Mr. F. J. Sargood, then senior member of the film of Sargood, King and Sargood. Shortly after this he was appointed Victorian representative of the firm, and eventually, in 1863, was admitted as a partner. A little later ho went to Dunedin, and in 1864 he established the business of the firm in that town. Tn 1868 he removed to London to take over the management of the firm’s business in that city, and has resided there almost entirely ever since. Mr. Ewen was a Justice of Peace for the County of Middlesex, also a member of the committee for the Con-

giegational Union, had a seat on the board of tire Union Steamship Company, and was also connected with the London Board of the Bank of New Zealand, and various other colonial institutions.

Though a man of retiring and unostentatious disposition, he had always a kind word and helping hand for any cola* nials who visited London and came within the sphere of his influence, and many colonials who were in the habit of visiting the Old Country periodically will miss his kind and genial welcome. He took a great interest in all matters appertaining to the welfare of the colonies in general, and as an employer of labour whs loved and respected by all who came in contact with him. He was universally esteemed by all connected with the trade in which he had spent so many years of his life. He lived in a! quiet and retired manner at Potter’s Bar, Barnet, near London, in the bosom of his family, to whom he was deeply attached, devoting his spare hours to the care of bis garden, in which he took a great interest.

Through the death of Mr Ewen a blank will be left in the ranks of the old colonial merchants residing in London, with whom he lived on the !>est terms. His success in life is another illustration of a young man, who, though beginning in a humble manner, by dint of perseverance, strict attention to business and sobriety, raised himself to affluence and an honourable position in the world.

THE LATE MR. JAMES MACKIE. The death of Mr James Mackie, coachbuilder, which took place yesterday morning, removes from our midst another of our old identities. Mr Mackie arrived in Auckland from Tasmania in 1859, and joined his brother, Alexander Mackie, in partnership as coachbuilders. The firm were large contractors to the Imperial Government during the Maori war, and at about the same time undertook the carriage from the Manakau to the Waitemata of the steamer Maori Chief. The work presented many difficulties, and there'were* not wanting many persons who predicted that the attempt would end in failure; in fact, some friends of the owners of the steamer advised them to cancel the contract, as the vessel would certainly be ruined. A specially constructed waggon .was built, to be drawn by horses, but owing to the great weight ot the load and the difficulty in getting all the horses to • pull at the one time, bullocks had to be called into requisition. By these means the journey was successfully completed without any mishap. Mr Mackie went to the Thames in 1869, and carried on business there till 1878, when he re-opened in High-street at the corner of Victoria-street East. Here he continued till a short time ago. The deceased was very fond of music, and for vtjars was a member of St Mary’s and St Paul’s Churches, lie will be greatly missed by a large circle of friends and acquaintances, on account of his generous and genial disposition.