OBITUARY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1523, 20 August 1912, Page 7

OBITUARY.

MR. THOMAS GEORGE MACARTHY. Mr. Thomas Georgo Mocarthy, one of Wellington's best-known citizens, died at his residence, Bouicott Street, at 10.45 o'clock last night, after a brief illness of three or four days. A strenuous worker all his life, and a man with many interests in this city, the late Mr. Mncnrthy was about and attending to affairs quite as usual a week ago. On Saturday last, however, he complained of feeling ill, and had to take to bed. Three doctors were called in, but they- found tho case to bo beyond aid, and last evening ho passed peacefully away. Tho immediate cause of death way an internal complaint. An attack of pneumonia had occurred a year ago, but thanks to a good constitution ho had then pulled through. Deceased, who was a notable figure in Wellington for many years, was born in London in 1833, and was attracted to Australia bv the discovery of gold in Victoria in tho late fifties. After a period spent in Australia he, with many others, camo across tho Tasman Sea, to try his fortuno on the Otago diggings, and later followed the "rush" to the West Coast. After same experience on tho fields there ho settled down at Charleston—then a flourishing mining town—where ho established a brewery, which he conducted for several years with, success. Kβ was fortunate, too, in. mining investments niado at tteefton. In 1877 he came to Wellington, and purchased a largo brewery iii Tory Street, which he controlled up till tho .timo of his death. This property—one of many owned by Mr. Macaithy—extends from Tory Street to the end of York Street, a valuable block in the heart tho most densely populated part of tho city. Mr. Maearthy was by nature a quiet, retiring man, taking littlo outward interest in public affairs. Ho was, however, ac-, tively associated with many business companies in Wellington, and was in some instances associated with tho foundation of commercial enterprises which have developed with tho growth of the city. He was a director of the Wellington Opera House Company, and only recently sold to that company a block of land in Manners Street East, on which it is intended to erect another theatre.. For years he held a eoit on tho directorate of the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company, and in 181)7 occupied the position of chairman of. the board. Ho was also a well-known member of tho Central Club. In an unostentatious manner Mr. Macarthy was extremely generous, ns tho authorities of moro than ono charity can testify, but ho always insisted as a provision to his bequests that his anonymity should be preserved. An exception to tills rulo was his contribution of .£SOO to tho Children's Hospital fund, init'ated by Mrs. Wilford and Mr. Hugh Ward two years ago. Mrs. Macarthy is also woll Known as an active worker in the fiold of charitable endeavour. Mr. Macarthy had no relatives in New Zealand, but two nieces resido in Kngland.