OBITUARY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 570, 27 July 1909, Page 6

OBITUARY.

'■'■; JOTJENALIST. : r ■ V - (By Tcleirapli.— Prou AwocUUon.) '■:'!;, -'.'■

: - ; ■:":•■ ' ■■' Naplor.JulySa.-. The death occurred to-day, in .his third year, of Mr. Thomas Morrison, well known in journalistic .circles. He was at ono time a member of ihe proprietary of the' "Hawke's Bay Herald," and at a later period did.: Parliamentary • reporting for the Press Association, and sessional corrospondonoe for a number of papers.' In the early'days of Napier, Mr. Morrison was .an ardent 1 volunteer, and did much to encourage- rifle shoot l ing. He was an. enthusiastic bowler, was greatly interested in musical" matters,, and' always took an active interest in the work of : . Church. ■..■' ■' •:

; AN OLD.PUBLIC SERVANT..:•',;; ; (By Telegraph-Special CorrcspondsnU ; f. U} ■..' Christchurch; July26.^' Mr. John S, Browning,, whose death'occurred at Christchurch on Saturday!,'retired from the Public Service in October,' 1896; he ■ being then Commissioner of Crown 1 Lands and Chief Surveyor 'of Nebson. Hβ had, then a record' of thirty-nine years!' sbrvicn. In' early. lif o;_ being in poor health, ho embarked on an Indian mercmintman as a hand before the mast. That was in 1844, and by 1850, haying .'continued' liis : studies; ho had been for some time commander or a vessel trading from Australia. .He subsequently left the sea, and obtained a position in the Publib l Department of, Canterbury ae assistant surveyor, arid draughtsman under the Edward Dobson. : From 1859 to 1861 ho was engineer at Timaru,.and ih;1863 'he gave evidence . before a commission to report on the best means of making Lyttelton a safo'and' commodious harbour. The plan subsequently recommended by the: English 'engineers, was practically the scheme suggested byMr. Browniiig. In :: 1864-5' lio was sent to explore the passes on the main range forroad lines in view of the gold rush to the West Coast, and Browning's Passj 'tho only, practicable pass, except Whiloombe's/south of Arthur's Puss, boars' his name. He was tlien appointed district survoyor on the' West Coast, and in 1876 ho be-, came Chief Surveyor of Nelson province. In 1891 ho added to this duty that of Conimis* sioner of Crown Larid6, and continued to hold the two offices ; until his retirement. ~ ;