OBITUARY.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2269, 1 October 1914, Page 3

OBITUARY.

THE HON. T. FERGUS,

(By Teleerapli—Press Association.) Durietlin, September 30. The death was announced to-day of .ho Hon. Thomas Fergus. Ho was taken 1! yesterday, and an operation was jerformed last night, hut-he died this uorning,. aged 63. _ The Hon. Thomas Fergus at the ,imo of his death was a director of the ISank of Now Zealand, being so appoint>d by tho Government in March last, md his wide business experience, it s understood, was much valued by the >oaird. Ho was an Ayrshire man,' and cas educated partly in Melbourne and >artly in Otago. He arrived in New ioaland_ in 1869, and was district dn;ineer in his earliei days under the Jtago Provincial Government. Later, 10 became a member ,of the contracting firm of Henderson and Fergus, dio carried out many large undertakngs in both Islands. He was subsewith Mr. J; B. Blair, i.nd with him built railways and other corks in Australia and Tasmania. He cas also in business as a merchant in Dunedin with the lato Mr. Donald loid. In 1381 he became a. member if the Houso, and ultimately joined lie Atkinson Administration, and was ilinistor of Public Works, Defence, Jugico, and Mines. ' i TRIBUTFS IN Tug HOUSE. . FINIS RECORD DP SERVICE. Many tributes to tho "worth of the ite Hon. T. Fergus were paid by mem'ers of tho House of Representative; esterday, when tho Prime Ministei sked tile Houso to affirm a motion reoguising the services rendered to the itate by tho deceased, gentleman. The Right Hon. W. F. Massey moved lie following resolution: "That tin louso records its high sense of th>' aithful. sorvicos rendered to New Ze?md by the late Hon. Thomas Fergus, t ormer member of . the Houso'of llcproentatives and Minister of the Crown nd respectfully tenders to his widow nd family its sincere sympathy witl hem in their bereavement.". "The late Mr. Fergus," said Mr lassey, "was born at Ayr in 1851, sc hat at the time of his death ho waf 3 years of age. \ He arrived in Otag< a 1870. He was district engineer fo he goldfields from 1872 to 1876, undo, he Provincial Government. Ho wai nember'for_ Walcatipu. in tho Houso o. tepresentatives, and from 1887. to le was Minister of Justice in tho Atkin on Government, and Minister of Pub ic Works and Mines from 1889 •ti 891. ■ lie was a member of the Otagi Education Board for many years, am ;t.the time of his death he was chair nan of the board. • In ,1914, the pre out year, he was appointed a dirocto if the Bank of New Zealand. Th leath of the Hon. Mr. Fergus came a i shock wlieii wo heard it' this after loon. I had not the opportunity o leing in Parliament with Mr. Fergus mt I had the privilege of his acquaint ince and friendship for many years,-tun ; can bear witness to his strong an :terling character. Ho waG a straight orward, honourable man, a loving hut land, a good father, a staunch an; oyal friend, a man who did good wor. or the Dominion not only in bis capat ty as Minister of the Crown, but i nany other capacities, who did goo vorlc not only for the Dominion, but fo lis fellow-citizens of the City of Dun< lin, and for his fellow-settlers of Otagc . can think of no one who will be mor lincerely • missed, or whose death wi le .moro' sincerely regretted than th ato Mr.- Fergus, not only by his pe: ;onal friends, but alsf 'by men in firm iial oircle's and in political circles —an vhen I say political circles, I am nc ihinking of one party only, because ty mow the deceased gentleman was pool ar among all sections in politics, an n all pa ts of the Dominion. We ca inly hope .that the . sympathy that'wi le expressed throughout this country wi often the blow that has fallen upon h: vidow and family." . Sir Joseph Ward (Leader of tho Oi losition) said that it was with gres iewot that he rose to second the res< tition. It. /was only a couple of week iince'he had spent some time in th leceased gentleman's company talkm if old times. The late Mr. Forcros ha jeen a very useful man in all walks < ife and a vigorous man. who, had take m active interest ill affairs. The Hon. J. Allen said that thei vere only four, members noV in Parlii nent whoOiad been in the House whe ■■he late Mr. Fereus was appointed Minister of the Crown. He had s.ervc Zealand well as an education!! ind otherwise. He had done very van ible work, for Otago, ar.d no ono woul id mbr? misled there. Those whom 1 eft behind would be consoled by tl rnowWhro that he had done his duty 1 lis country. . Tlio Hnn. W. FrasoT, who raeceedf ihe'late Mr. Fergus as tne represent: ive of the Wikatinu rrf :hat he kne\y ihe lat<> honourable gentl iwiin as a staunch and honest friem Che deceased was a man who had vei nnny frienJs. and his memory wou! iye lontr in the minds of the people i Zexland. ' Sir Walter Buchanan remark'pd thi ■ho late Mr. Fergus ww a member i ho House ho tho speaker) o nllv ontered. it in His friew md oiinnnnnts as a di rate member, and as Minister, he wi i. man of sterling Qualities. He wis)" :o join in the expressions of sympat.l vifii fl'y'oqset) <rf\nl.V>Tnmi's family The resolution was affir r "«l._ and, < mbtion of the Minister.' tl Ronso till 2.30 p.m. to-d: is a maTV of rosnpet to the memory the jlate Mr. Ferfnis. i