OBITUARY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXII, Issue 2, 10 May 1895, Page 8

OBITUARY.

The late lamented Mr Thomas McGarva, who leaves a wife and three grown-up children, two daughters and one son, to mourn bis loss, was a native of Ayrshire, Scotland. He was fifty-three years of age at tbe time of his death, which happened on the thirty-first day of March last. Two years after his arrival in Canterbury, thirty-two years ago, in the ship " David G. Fleming," he married, and in the following year, joined the railway service. His first work was to take part in forming a portion of the line that extended from the city of Ohristchurch to the river Selwyn. Toe well-known contractors in those days, Messjrs Holmes and Co., constructed the work, and when the line was opened the Government took possession of the Canterbury railways, and Mr McGarva was as-ociated with them by being appointed foreman. He succeeded in this capacity Mr Alexander Buchanan, and Mr McGarva held the position for about twenty, four years. He was altogether on the Canterbury and Dunedin sections of the railway for over twenty-eigbt years, and became most popnlar, not only with his fellow-employees, but also with all classes of the community. His general and manly straightforwardness, bis promptitude at all times to attend to duty's call, and his complete earnestness at his work gained him the good opinion of everyone, and especially of men who were under him, and witnessed his sound sense, tact, and ability. The gravity of Mr McGarva'a position will be easily realised by anyone acquainted with the duties of a foreman. Does not on him depend the safety of tbe travelling public? Any oversight on his part might not only result in a serious interruption of traffic and a loss of public money but also involve a great loss of life. When he was about two years ago removed from Canterbury to Dunedin, his fellow-workmen would not let their foreman depart without giving him a handsome and valuable souvenir of their esteem. They met, and the shop-foreman. Mr Alexander, who had served twenty-one years under Mr McGarva, was voted to the chair. The chairman in making the presentation, which consisted of a splendid gold watch and chain and a beautifully illuminated address, sp ke of the many excellent traits of Mr McGarva, and concluded by reading the addresß. Mr McGarva knew well how to inspire his men with confidence, enthusiasm, and energy, and his private conduct equalled his public. He was a kind and careful buaband and father. He was, moreover, a good Christian, and one who regularly attended to the practices of his Chnrch. He took part also in every parochial work. His cool and correct judgment was on these occ<Bions most useful, and his habitually unassuming demeanour endeared him to everyone. He was a member of various parochial societie and aodfllitiep, and among other*, that of St Vincent de Paul. To quietly give relief to the needy bfforded him a pleasure, and many a person is indebted to Mr McGirva for work or assistance of Borne sort. His xmiable wife and her two daughters deserve especial mention in this particular. Indeed, during the last decade there has been hardly any parish work wherein they have not taken a leading part. On the occasion of his obsequies, Mr McGarva's remains were conveyed from his late resiJence in Sydenham, to the pro-Cathedral,

where a Bolemn Requiem Mass was said by the Very Rev Father Oummings, V.G ,in the presence of a large congrejation. After the ceremony the body remained in the sacred edifice until the afternoon, and was then interred in the Limrood public cemetery The railway authorities granted permission on the occasion to any one who wished of their employees to attend the funera', and very many of them were present. The Cbristcburch railway station-master, Mr Pilkirgton, acted as chief pall-bearer, and the funeral cortege to the cemetery was perhaps one of the largest on record. The Very Rev Fa 1 her Oummings officiated at the grave, where he delivered a short address on the good character of the deceased, the uncertainty of death, and the necessity to expect ani to prepare for it.— R.I.P.

A most sincere regret is felt generally throughout the Catholic community in Dunedin for the death of Miss Florrie Pearson, one of their younger members. The young lady in question, who had been a few years ago among the most promising pupils of the Dominican nuns, had well fulfilled all that was expected of her. To rich accomplishments she joined great beauty of character, and in all the relationships of life, as daughter, sister, and friend, deserved and possessed the love and esteem of those who were assoc iated with her. In the absence of the deceased's father, Mr Richard Pearson, who is on a visit to the Cld Country, especial sympathy is felt for Mrs Pearson, her mother, who baa now suffered, in a comparatively short apace of time, the loss of three children— a boy and two girls — each and all of them possessed of most endearing characteristics, and giving promise of every excellence in life. Tbe deceased had been for some weeks an invalid. Up to the last, however, hopes of her recovery had not been abandoned. She was a member of the Confraternity of Oar Lady of Perpetual Succour, and, it is needless to add, had received all tbe consolations of religion with a true appreciation. — Reqiiiescat in Pace.