OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2860, 26 August 1916, Page 11

OBITUARY

MR. MARTIN KENNEDY

- One of Wellington's and New Zealand's best-known men, Air. Martin Kennedy, died ' last evening after a brief illness. Mr. Kennedy had been ailing for some little time, and entered a private hospital about threo weeks 'ago to undergo an operation. Mr. Kennedy had been a resident of Wellington, since 1889,' and ho was interested m many of tho big business concerns which have their headquarters m the City, notably tho Bank of New Zealand. He had.long been a prominent colonist. Ho came out to Victoria from. Ireland in ISGO, being attracted hy tho gold rush. For twslre' months he was on tho diggings. Then nows reached Victoria of rich discoveries in Otago. In company with manv others ho crossed over to New Zealand. For some years he, with his brother, carried on a merchant's business at Queenstown. When tho rush to the AVest Coast started, Mr. Kennedy removed to Greymouth, where he was a leading merchant for over twenty years. He was largely interested in gold mining in all parts of the West Coast, giving his time and experience in. furthering the interests of the Textures with which he was connected. In 1874 he acquired a considerablo sharo in the coal mines at Bnmnerton, and his duties in connection with tho mine became so onerous that in 1880 he discontinued the mercantile business and devoted himself entirely to the mines. , Subsequently Air. Kennedy, became sole proprietor of. the Brunuer Colliery and the steam colliers" employed in the trade. In 1888 he amalgamated his 1 colliery with the Westport Company! s interest; at Brunnerton, and the company became known as the Grey VaJley Coal Company, of which Mr. Kennedy took up tho position of managing director. Keenly interested at that time in local and general politics,- Mr. Kennedy stood for Parliament, and was returned as member for Grey, for which' constituency ho sat in 1876-78. Finding, after two sessions, that he could not give sufficient time' to his Parliamentary duties, he resigned his seat, and did not afterwards enter politics. Soon after Mr. Kennedy came to .■Wellington .to live ho was appointed managing director of the company which purchased Messrs. Staples and Co.'s brewery. He also became interested' in other local undertakings, and joined the directorate of several companies, including that of the Bank of New Zealand. Some-years ago he was created by the Pope a Knight of St. Gregory. Mr. Kennedy was a generous supporter of many charitable institutions, and was a particular friend of Roman Catholic institutions. Ho wa6 president of the Council of tho St. Vincent de Paul Society of New Zealand; the chief of the Catholic charitable" institutions. His devotion to the work of the society was so great that he j never missed a weekly meeting, attend- j nig even-at tho last meeting beforo he ' sutercd the hospital.

SIR MAURICE O'ROKKE

-A Press Association message from Auckland states that tho Hon Sir Maurice O'Rorke, M.L.C., died on Thursday night. Sir Maurice O'ltork'e was one of the men who, belonging to our Parliament whon it was still very young, left upon it an indelible impression. He was a politician, in that ho was sufficiently interested m the country's affairs to' seek and obtain election, to ■ the. House of -Representatives, but it is not as a politician that he left his mark on tho Parliamentary institutions of this country.- His most distinguished service was as Speaker of the House, a position ;whiolr notable-ability/ lie is still regarded as the pattern bpeakcr of tho New , Zealand House, and tho good name of that assemblage (is a well-conducted body is due in no small measure to the high standards set and maintained by Sir Maurice U JlorKc.

He was born at Movlough, County Galway, Ireland, in 1830. He had a distinguished university career, and graduated in 1852, from Trinity' College, Dublin. In 1896 his old university paid him the' compliment, of conferring upon him the honorary degree of LL.D. Upon leaving college he came out to Australia, but after a few years of roaming in that continent, he came 'to Now Zealand, and settled as a farmer in Onelnuiga. In those days, however, farming was not a congenial occupation, and in 1857 he sought and gained the position of Clerk of the Auckland Provincial Couccil. In 18C0 Onelmnga became entitled to send one member to the House of Representatives, and Mr. O'liorkoicame out iu opposition to the Stafford Ministry. He was elected by a majority of one, in spite of strong Ministerial opposition. Later, he was elected to the Auckland Provincial Council, of which ho was elected Speaker the first day oa which he took his seat, and. he held the position until tho abolition of the.Provinces in 1876—a measure which ho strongly opposed. It was largely through.his instrumentality that the Auckland Grammar School was established. In the House of Representatives his abilities as a leader of men were quickly recognised. Chairman of Committees in 1870-71-72, he then obtained a seat in the Waterhoiiso Ministry, and after the retirement of that Government he continued "to hold oflico under Sir Julms Vogcl. When that statesman proposed to abolish tho Provincog of tho North Island Sir Maurico 0 Rorko retired from vtho Ministry. In 1875 he was again elected Chairman of Committees. Four years later tho Speakership of tho House was vacated by Sir William Fitzherbert (who was appointed M.L.C.), and Mr. O'Rorko, nominated by the Premier (Sir George Grey), and seconded by tho Leader of the Opposition (Major Atkinson), was unanimously elected Speaker. In 1880 he had ' so impressed, his personality upon the authorities and Parliament and the public and the country that ho received the honour of Knighthood from the late Queen Victoria. He leaves one son, Mr. E. Denis O'Rorkc, formerly well.known in Auckland as a cross-country rider, who has resided in England for tho past six years.

MR. DUGALD M'KELLAR

Tho death occurred at his residence, Fairvicw licsi't, Kclbiirci, yesterday morning, of Air. Dugald M'Kellar, for-' mcrly Collector of Customs at Wellington. The late Mr. M'Kellar was born at Battersea, Surrey, England, in 1836, Riid was educated chiefly by private tutors; Ho was a son of Mr. Dugald M'Kellar, medical officer at Madeira, who died there in 1849. Dr. M/Kcllar's widow came out to New Zealand with her family by the barque St. Michael in 1852, and landral at New Plymouth. The voyage occupied KG days. Mrs. M'Kellar took up land in Taranaki, and with her children underwent-some stirring experiences in consequence of hostilities by the Maoris. At ono time things became so had that they wore obliged to leave the farm, after burying their furniture In a cellar, and go into New Plymouth to reside. Mr. Dugald M.'Kellar saw a good deal of fighting as a member of the Militia, and took part in tho Battle of Waireka and other encounters with the turbulent Natives. He was awarded the Maori War medal, and for many years before his death took a keen interest in the affairs of' the Association of His Majesty's Veterans. Air. M'Kellar wa H appointed to a temporary clerkship in

the Customs at Now Plymouth, mid then became clerk and landing-waiter at that port, taking up the latter position on January 1, 1859. Two years later ho was transferred to Auckland as second clerk, and in 18G7 he- was Appointed first clerk and cashier at Cliristclrurck. In 1873 ho was promoted Collector of Customs at Tanranga. 'In 1880 ho was made Landing-Surveyor at Auckland, and in 1892 he took up the. positions of Collector, Registrar of Shipping, and Inspector of . Fisheries at Wellington, holding those appointments until ho retired on superannua-tion-in 1901.

On leaving tho service Mr. M'Kellar took up his residenco in Now Plymouth for about n. year, and then returned to Wellington. Until three months ago his health had heen fairly good. On Thursday morning he had a heart seizure, and ho died shortly before 2 o'clock yosterday morning. Ho has left a. widow (a daughter of the lato Mr. Henry Hill, solicitor, of-Auckland), to whom he was married in 1863, and a family of four sons—Mr. H. D. M'Kellar (Wellington), Captain A. W. M'Kellar, R..N.R. (s.s. Kaikoura, now in Auckland), Mr. 'W. D. M'Kellar (farming in South Africa), and Mr. A. C. M'Kellar (Wellington)—and two daughters—Miss M'Kellar and Mrs. E. V. Law, both of Wellington. The deceased was a prominent member of the Anglican . Church. .The funeral will take place at 10 a.m. to-dt/.. The interment is to be made at Karoii. As-a mark of respect the flags over the v Customs House and the shipping offices and on the vessels in port were at half-uiast yesterday.