OBITUARY.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXI, Issue II, 11 July 1903, Page 130

OBITUARY.

A Press Association telegram from Napier announces the death of Mr David Souter Hunter, aged 74. Deceased arrived in Wellington in 1840.

The death has occurred at Naoutoka, Rewa, Fiji, of Mr Claus Heinrich Koster, aged seventy years. He had been in Fiji for thirty years, engaged in planting cotton, sugar and fruit.

Mr J. Rayner Skeet, who died at Cambridge a few days ago, came out from England only a couple of years ago for the sake of his health. He seemed to have greatly improved, and his sudden collapse was surprising.

Mr E. B. Grey, of Waiheke Island, whose death at the age of 70 years is announced, came to the colony about 40 years ago. He was born in Glenary, Country Antrim, Ireland.

The death is announced in London of Mr C. W. Holgate, chancellor of the diocese of Salisbury, and author of “Accounts of the Chief Libraries of Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand.” Mr Adam Sherlock, who died at the Thames on Sunday week, was one of the oldest inhabitants of the mining borough. He was 76 years of age, and during his time had had much to do with the industries of the goldfields.

Another old identity has just passed away in the person of Mrs Morgan, Church-street, Ponsonby, the relict of the late Robert Morgan, known at the Thames. She died in her 74th year, and it is just forty years since she left Cirencester, Gloucestershire (Eng.), for New Zealand.

An old veteran named Patrick Joseph Maguire, late of H.M. 65th Regiment, died at his residence in the Great Northroad on July 4. He came from Cortlawn, County Westmeath, Ireland. He fought in the Waikato War, and was afterwards 17 years in the employ of the Auckland City Council. He leaves a widow, two sons and three daughters.

The rapidly thinning ranks of the early settlers have lost the person of Mr Samuel Matthews, who died at the age of 86 at his son’s residence in New Plymouth. Mr Matthews was one of the oldest settlers in Taranaki, as he came out in the Amelia Thompson in 1841. His wife predeceased him by about five years, and he leaves a family of one son and four daughters.

Mr Hugh Christie, wejl-known in Otago as a “whip” in the early goldfields days, and better known in the North as a successful trainer, died recently at Napier. Some time ago Mr Christie underwent an operation for eancer of the tongue, a portion of which was removed. At first the operation was thought to have been highly successful, but in a few months the cancer again appeared, and a second operation was considered impossible. After three months’ painful illness he died. He leaves a grownup family.

Mr Edward Sheppard, of St. Stephen’s Avenue. Parnell, died suddenly on Saturday last. Mr Sheppard was an accountant employed by Mr W. T. Murray, and on his way home on Saturday he became attacked by heart failure, and had to rest by the road-side. Some friends went to his assistance, but he died before he could reach his home. He had been attended by Dr. Gordon, who had since certified that death was caused by heart disease. Deceased was 46 years of age, and was the eldest son of Mr Joseph Sheppard, of West Combe Cottage, East Greenwich, Kent. By the death of Donald John McKay, Waipu lost one of its earliest settlers. This occurred on June 18, when the pioneer had passed his 81st year. Mr Mckay was a native of Victoria County, Cape Breton, where he was born in 1822, but his connection with the Australasian colonies began at an early age. His father came to Australia in the barquentine Margaret, and after 3 years’ existence there, the family removed to New Zealand. Three brothers were attracted to the Otago goldfields, and the deceased, after encountering the adversities of the goldminer of the early days, came to Waipu and settled on a farm, where he resided for several decades. He removed to Parua Bay some J ear. ago, and although his death was ue to pneumonia, he appeared hale and hearty till the end.