OBITUARY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 934, 29 September 1910, Page 4

OBITUARY.

ME. A. J. WILLIS.. Mr, A. J.. Willis, who retired'last yea*'. ; from the position of clerk to the Executive Council, died at his residence at Is- ; : land Bay yesterday afternoon, aged '82 years. The deceased gentleman, who was born in Grahamstown (South Africa), is said to have served a longer period in the Civil Service than any other servant .'of the country. He was educated in Tasmania, and became a clerk in the Controller-General's Office in the lmperial Convict Service at Hobarfc in 1840. Tempted by the gold rush that brought a proportion of all the world to \ Victoria in the early fifties, he left the service to try his luck in 1852, but for-' ; ; ~ tune did not wait on him with brimming hands. He. subsequently became superintendent of the Victorian .Government's- . convict hulk. In 1861 Mr. WiKis came across to New Zealand, and joined, the/: ; r staff of the Provincial Secretary of Qtago, ,and rose to be Provincial UnderSecretary, and, later still, was appointed resident magistrate and warden at Dun- . edin. In 1878 he entered .the Land' Tax "Department,. and; ; in 1885 was ■ appointed.' ." clerk to .the Executive Council. For many years Mr- ; Willis resided-at . John- , 6onrille, where the members of the are well known. Mr. Willis was a maa . of sterling character, whom.'.'everyone / . .esteemed.' He leaves a". widow'.;and four- : teen children—ull grown up: Mrs Edwin : lieach' (Sydney); \ Mrs,. Will Lawson, ■ Mrs. .H'/V I). Steel (Johnsonville), Mrs. A. Hubbard- . (Masterton), Sirs. Mowatt (Blenheim),- • .Mrs,- _ Hili-Jack," of Duncdin, and the Misses Willis (2); and .five sons: Mi. Geo. Willis (secretary Wellington Charitable Aid Board), Mr. B.Willis (Wairarapa Farmers'),.: Mr. Cecil ..Willis (fourth '■ engineer s.s; Maori), and Messrs. F. and E. .WiUiS'-'.tßlenheim), 1 'arid . Mr.> : ; Wm. : Willis, .of Gore. N.o ■ fewer ■■■ than . . ten members of the family; were, assem-, bled ,at.:. the; death-bed; " Mr.' Willis : 'r' : had, been a suffered from gont for many years, but otherwise had enjoyed ,very good health up :• till. Saturday, last; : .3fhen ■; he broke down altogether. -The:funeral takes place to-morrow. .The body will be :. interred 'Vat.; • Johnsonville, where' Mr. Willis lived for 21 years. ;. ..". v '• REV. DR. NISBET. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) ' -• .Dunedin, September 28.. The -Eev. Dry' Nisbet, pastor of First" ' . ' Church, who returned to Dunedin last Saturday after an. extended: visit to; Australia owin®, to ill-health, died somewhat ,- i;' ; suddenly to-night. He was going about as, usual during the. day, and as a mat- . ter of fact officiated at-a'i wedding ceremony this afternoon, but about 7 p.m. ; : it', he toot 'a ."sudden seizure', and .passed.. away within' a few hours. Death waa due to a variety of causes, the immediate one. being -hemorrhage of the brain. !'v Dr. Nisbet. obtained "leave of;'abselice ia-V., ; Ju1y,.1909, on. account 'of ill-liealth, and:. . -:. after- spending Isorne time at l'icton ha ... went to Australia. He \was .'s2' years -of ' -1. age. He is. survived by l ., a widow, two sons, and a daughter.' l'.: The death of Dr.' Nisbet will be. a : great loss to the Presbyterian Churcli of' •New, and., mil be deeply regret-;.': v - ted. by a wide circle of ,personal friends, both in New Zealand and Australia.: Ho h'ad.a distinguisKed career in thel Church. ; ' and exercised a. great influence, for. good • both as pastor -' and preacher. He •' came - V', from Australia somej- years; ago, having .- - been chosen to. succeed Dr. Gibb as pastor ' ' " of First Church,'Dunedin,-on theSlatter's: A appointment to St. John's Church, Wei- > -. 1 lingtcn. .He was very, popular as a leo- . turcr on Scottish subjects,, and. was greatly respected by people of all classes. -and.creeds. ;;V"■'A,-;:: ■