OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2581, 1 October 1915, Page 10

OBITUARY

MR. J. M. RICHARDSON. The death occurred suddenly yesterday morning of Mr. J. M. Richardson, of the Terrace, .in old aud highlyrespected resident of this City. The deceased, gentleman wais a native of Croydon, in Surrey (England), and was a cousin of John iiuskm, the famous sociologist and; writer. Being of an adventurous character, he left England for Australia in 1855, when ho was only 14 yeais of ago, and there went into the drapery business. Five years later .he decided to' go further afield, and came to New Zealand to his uncles, Messrs. George and John Moore, who had a sheep station at Waikaraka, near Flat Point, on the East Coast. He liked the life, but seeing no prospect of making his fortune at sheep-farm-ing without capita], ho returned to Sydney, aud there entered the drapery firm of Francis Giles and Co., where he had as shopmates Messrs. iiirkcaldio and Staiiis, afterwards, of Wellington. There, too, he met Mr. H. 0. Wilson, wit'li! whom he entered into partnership, and coming to New Zealand commenced business' in Nelson, where they made more than' a competence in seven years, when -they eold out. Both he and his partner, with their wives, left to settle in England, but tiring of the restrictions of English life after his colonial experiences, Mr. Richardson decided to return to New Zealand and joining forces with his old partner they bought- out Mr. John Burne, of Lainb'ton Quay; and conducted a large aud flourishing business here for many years under the title of Wilson and Richardson. The late Mr. Richardson was a member of the City Council from 1883 to 1888y and as a mark of respect to his memory tho civic flag was flown at halfmast ' from '■ the Town Hall yesterday. At the-tiiuo of his deatli he was director of the l'almerston North Gas Company, Wellington Investment Company, Scoullar's, Ltd., C. M. Banks, Ltd., and managing director of the l'eilding Gas Company, jfe is survived by Mrs. Richardson and six children, of whom his only son, Mr. H. T. Richardson, is a dentist in Auckland. His eldest daughter is married to: Mr. Meek (of Meek and von Haast, solicitors), and one daughtei- is tho wife of Mr. W. E. A. Gill (of Rowley and' Gill). The other daughters are unmarried. When the City Council met last evening the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) mentioned tho death of Mr. Richardson, who, ho 'said, had been a good councillor and a. good citizen. As a City Councillor ho had done considerable work. The family was held ■in very high esteem. The Council pased a resolution of condolence'with Mr. Richardson's family and relatives.