DEATH OF A WELL-KNOWN CATHOLIC.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXV, Issue 12, 23 July 1897, Page 19

DEATH OF A WELL-KNOWN CATHOLIC.

It is with sincere regret that we chronicle the death of a wellknown and universally-respected Catholic in the person of Mr. L. G. Ryan of Alexandra, who passed away at his residence on Wednesday, the 30th ult. Mr. Ryan, who was a very old identity, was a most loyal and devoted member of the Church, and in all the relations of life, as husband, father, citizen and friend, he showed himself a true-hearted, genuine, and sterling man. He was held in the greatest respect, not only by his co-religionists, but by all classes and creeds in the community. On the day of his death the flag was kept at half-mast at the Alexandra Town Hall. As the funeral cortege left the church the church bell was tolled, and Miss Paget, the organist, played the Dead March, the same tribute of respect being- also paid by the organist of the Presbyterian Church as the procession passed the place of worship of that denomination. The coffin was covered with very pretty wreaths sent by old friends, and numerous telegrams of sympathy and condolence from all parts of the world were received by members of the family. On Sunday feeling reference was made at Lawrence, by the Very Rev. Father O'Leary, to the death ot the deceased, and both there and at Ophir Masses were offered up for the repose of his soul. We take the following obituary notice from the Bun-start, Times of the 2nd inst. :—: —

It is our sad duty to chronicle the death of another of that everdiminishing band of hardy pioneers who, in the early sixties, settled throughout the goldfields of Otago. in the person of the late Mr. L. Gr. Ryan, of Alexandra. The late Mr. Ryan was a man widely known and greatly respected, both on the Victorian goldrields and in Otago, even although he was of a somewhat retiring disposition, and only once in the course of thirty-five years visited Dunedin after his settlement in Alexandra. That was at the time of the consecration of Bishop Verdon a year or two ago. Mr. Ryan was an early colonist, having come to Victoria at the great rush of 1.54.">, which year he landed in Melbourne. He was a native of County Limerick, Ireland, where he was born in the year l!-i3K, being the third son of John Ryan and Ann Gubbms. of Cross House, in that county, where one ot his maternal uncles still resides, viz., Joseph Gubbms. Esq., of 1711 a House, and another recently died — William dubbins, Emj., G-arthekelene. Limerick. On his arrival in Melbourne m 1 !->."> t he proceeded to the goldtield* where he was weli known and respected, and where he remained tor about eight years. A number ot his acquaintances and friend-, ot these early days &till survive in this district and in Otago. Alter four years on the goldtields at Bendigo and Sandhurst, he married on the 15th September, lh,">B, while only in his 2uth year, and settled down for about four years In LSb'l-C>2 the news ot Gabriels and the Duristan and other diggings in Otago attracted his attention, and, like a number of others, he thought he would try hit, fortune there. So he arrived at the Dunstan or Manuherikia goldfield in the year IKC.2. Shortly after his arrival he opened the Bendigo Hotel, Alexandra, where he devoted himself to his business from that time till his death ; and was very buccessful in providing an excellent hostelry for the accommodation of the travelling public and his good qualities as a kindly host were greatly appreciated by those who stayed at his plaje. He took an active interest in the prosperity of the town and district of Alexandr i for many years, and was repeatedly elected a member of the Borough Couecil, w here his quiet good sense was always of much value and well appreciated. He also took a great interest in the Church, being a member ot the Roman Catholic communion, anil did all he could to further her interests in Alexandra. At the same time, while he was a faithful and devoted Catholic, he always had a kindly word to say for good members of all denominations, and was a liberal-minded man in all things. lie leaves behind a widow to mourn his 10-s : and also five sons and three daughters and nine grand-children. A married sister living at Matakanui and a brother at Ophir likewise survive their departed brother. Mr. Ryan was well known and wellliked in Alexandra, and quite a gloom was cast over the town by his decease, although it was not unexpected. He had been a sufferer for many months in a long and painful illness, though latterly his pain and suffering subsided as death drew near. He peacefully expired at his old residence, surrounded by the members of his family, early on the morning of the 30th ult., and rested from his sufferings and his labours. The late Mr. Ryan was also well liked as a host by the travelling public, and he always did what he could for Hit ir comfort on their journeys up-counuy. His decease will al^-o 1» regretted by the remaining mates and acquaintances of the old Bendigo and Sandhurst days who survive him in this neighbour-

hood. These early pioneer diggers of the goldfields of Otago were, taking them all in all, a fine, energetic, and generous-hearted lot of men. They are fast diminishing in number. We offer our sincere condolence and sympathy to the widow and family, and say with them of him who is gone, Requieseat in pace. The funeral of the late Mr. Ryan left his late residence for the Alexandra cemetery at 3 p.m. yesterday, and was followed by a large number of friends of the deceased, there being over fifty vehicles and several hundred on horse and foot in the cortege. Before leaving the cemetery, a mortuary service was held in the chapel, the Rev. Father Hunt, of Cromwell, officiating both there and at the grave.