OBITUARY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1502, 26 July 1912, Page 6

OBITUARY.

MR. 'HENRY SCOTT M'KELLAR. Mr. Henry Scott M'Kellar,.an old and respected resident of- Wellington, died yesterday morning at ,the' ripe age of 79 years. The deceased 1 gentleman, who was at one time Secretary for Customs, was the second son of Mr. Dugald M'Kellar, fur some years medical officer at Madeira; He was born at Battersea, Surrey, and was educated at the Bluecoat School, London. After engaging in business for tome years he decided to try what life Avas like in the colonies, and arrived in Now Plymouth in December,-1852, in the barque St. Michael (Captain Prance), bringing his mother, with him (his father having died five years previously). By the same vessel arrived the Hon. Edward Portmmi, who was in charge of Imperial dispatches relating to the Constitution Act, for New Zealand. For a time , Mr. M'Kellar engaged in forming pursuits in Taranaki, attcr which lie accepted a post in tho Customs Department at New Plymouth. So well did he perform his duties that later on he was appointed Collector at Christchurch, and subsequently was transferred to Auckland,, and then to Wellington.., On the retirement of the lato Mr.Wm. Seed he snecceded that, gentleman as Secretary for Customs, which nppointment he held until ho retired in .1592. After a trip to the Old Country, he settled in -Falmerston North,'where .ho resided until a year ago, since when he has resided in Wellington. He did'not become seriously'ill until a week ago, 'though he has been poorly in health for pome time past. He passed away >;estorflay at the residence , of Mr. Charles Barraud. in Gladstone Terrace. Mi'. M'Kellar was one of the few left irho connect tho present generation with rhe early days of tho Anglican Church in the Dominion. His naiyio is tS" be found attached to the constitution of the Church of tho Province of New Zealand, which was drawn up in 18!>", and ratified in 18R5, and which gave the Church a, definite status as a salf-gnvcrning body in communion with,, but independent of th* Church at Home. This constitution became the model of similar constitutions in other colonies. ...For about a genernvion ho held the upsition of treasurer to tho General Synod of New Zealand, and Also.of treasurer forj.he Melauesian Mjsfiion, and member of the Synod in tho diocese of Wellimrtrm. As A young • man lio knew, and frequently came in touch with the groat Bishop Pdwyn. It i<! only a very short while since Mr. M'Kellar relinquished this work in the Church nwing to failing health. Wifli liis death imot'ier of the men who helped to lay the fouidntion of our national lifo has br>Mv called away. T!i» Into Mr. M'Kcllar wris a widower, , i!ml leavee tw<idnn?h''ers, Mrs. Noel BnrTand.'nf Psiekakariki. fwmerlv "f PMmeifton North, and Mre. Oswald Porritt. of the latter town. ) Mr. Du"ald M'Kellar, of Kelli'irne, who suwded him "s Cnl. lecfw of Customs in Wellington, .Mr. Edward M'Kellar. nf Brighton. J>?bml, .Mr. Alf ml M'Kellir. nf Chrkch,uroh, and Mr. Jamps S. M'Kellar. of N«w Plymonth, oto Ms Withers. His only sister h Mvi. F. L. Webster, of New Plymonth. T}(" funeral will leave his late residence. No. 3 Gladstone Terrace, at 2 p.m. tomorrow for the Bolton Street Cemetery.