OBITUARY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 501, 7 May 1909, Page 6

OBITUARY.

MB. DAVID MITCHELL UUCKIE. Mr. David Mitchell Luckie, formerly Commissioner for the Government Life Insurance Department, and a gentleman who has played an interesting part in journalism in New Zealand, died at his residence at 6.30 last evening after an illness lasting over two or three months. The deceased, who was 81 years of age, and who retired from the Government service in December, last, had the misfortune to sustain an attack of inflammation of the lungs about the middle of last year, and though the attack shook his constitution severely, 'he recovered from it, and when convalescent went on a trip to Auckland to visit his son, Mr. Philip Luckie, of that city. While there in July last he suffered a slight stroke, but pulled round again; and apparently became as well as ever . until a few . weeks ago,' when he showed signs of failing health. The end was hastened by another and much more severe stroke on Wednesday night, from the shock of which he died. Mr. Luckie was born at Montrose, in Scotland, where his father was a merchant. He.commenced his business life in a mercantile establishment, and when still a young man took up the duties of clerk in a law office and' assistant assessor under the Property Tax Acts, in which latter capacity he acquired'a considerable knowledge of law. He contributed articles to. various county journals during this part of his career, and, having a natural leaning towards journalism, eventually retired from the study of law and became a reporter, and then sub-editor of th'e "Montrose. Review." Subsequently he held the positions of editor of the "John o'Groat's Journal" and then of the "Arbroath Guide.''• Whilst, in chargo of the latter journal Mr. Luckie,received an offer from New Zealand, to edit and take a share in tho "Nelson Colonist," and this he decided to accept. Before leaving Arbroath he. was entertained at a. banquet by tho leading citizens and was presented with.a purse of sovereigns. He arrived in Nelson, in 1863, and on the day following his arrival the residents of "Sleepy Hollow" were startled by a vigorous condomnation of the policy of the'Ministryof the day, who were believed, to be thwarting the efforts of the Governor, Sir George Grey, to exhaust all avenues of peace before resorting to war with the natives. The article displayed a thorough grasp of New Zealand politics and finance which.astonished the quiet citizens of Nelson. . .' ,

The explanation of this knbwlodgo was.. easily discovered. During .his' four months voyage the new editor 'ha'd had the opportunity '-of studying sundry New ' Zealand, Blue Books, and had -with him", a fellow passenger who was well versed in Now Zealand politics. ' This first article was 'only the beginning of many., The "Colonist" soon became the most quoted paper in the colony, and Mr. Luclrie was a notability.* 'Deceased was placed on the Commission of the Peace in 1869, and soon found his ,way, to a seat in the" Provincial Council, and later, in 1872, to parliament. ) "Whilst ■ residing m Nelson Mr. Luckie did good, service, leading to, the discovery and capture of >t}ie\ Burgess and Sullivan gang, four notorious criminals, who wero guilty of numerous, murders on the West Coast and the Maungatapu Mountain in 1866. .'.-'■' On the discbvory of agoldfield at Wangapeka in tho interior,; :ho successfully exposed and frustrated'the.efforts of various provincial officials to socure, large sections of the field'to themselves ! and their friends, to the exclusion' and detriment of the genuine miners who had taken up claims.. Sir Julius,. Vogol recognised Mr.' Luckie's ability.;: as. ■ a journalist about this, time, and' .offered him the . editorship vof .the. ['Daily Southern Cross," in; Auckland, 'a position which was accepted, and;added fur-: ther to the imported journalist's reputation. Mr. Luckie's '\Kaakowiski" hoax ,is still remembered by some of : the old colonists. Briefly, it was a supposititious'descent of a ■Russian frigate upon Auckland at .the tinio of the.war scare; and described:how the Russian captain;took.possession' .of the, Mayor; the banks, and the principal, merchants, and held them as hostages. .The hoax was porpotrated on' theV Monday morning, 'and all Auckland and the suburbs were in a state of 'amazement at the nows. .' The object of the oanard was to draw attention to,the defenceless state of the,colony,and was the means of inducing 'action to be taken in the direction of defence. '. ■ \ ', : :'', '.

■:_ Mr. Luckie remained with the "Southern Cross '.'■' until: it amalgamated with ; the VNew Zealand Herald", .in 1876,' when he became ' editor of the .amalgamated papers, remaining in that position until 1878, when he took' 'charge of the -Wellington "Evening Post." He remained with .the "Post" .until the, following year, when he was appointed Commissioner of the Government Insurance Department. He was chief of the Department until 1889, when two serious attacks of illness rendered him 'physically, incapable of ..continuing to hold the premier place,'so.he took the assistant, commissionership, which post he filled until recently. Mr. Luckie was a Fellow of tho Statistical Society: of London/having been elected in ,1885. .'Right .up to the end' of his career deceased took a keen' interest in journalism, and was 'an- honorary member of the New Zealand Institute of Journalists for many years 'previous to ■ his death; Ho was a frequent anonymous contributor to a number of Now Zealand journals, and nothingdelighted the old 'gentleman more than to drop-into the offices of local papers of an evening, and quietly smoke a genial cigar whilst: yarning over old days, and pressmen who had .been. ' : : Mr. Luckie leaves a widow, four sons, and two daughters. Of the sons,-Mr. Phillip Luckie to the Great Northern Brewery Company, of Auckland; Mr. Martin Luckie is a member of the legal firm of Field, Luckie, and Toogood (and is well known-m c ri c k e t and hockey circles): Mr. Wm. J., Luckie resides at Otira;. and Mr. Alex.. Raid Luckie is on the; staff of the Eastern Extension Company at Hong-Kong. The daughters are -Mrs. Ronaldson, wife of Mr. T. S. Ronaldson, inspector for the Public Trust Office, and Miss Luckie, of Wellington. . ', • ■■'■ ■'• ' The funeral: will leave: Mr. Luckio's late residence, 10 Halswell Street (off Murphy Street) at 10 aim. to-morrow (Saturday), "