OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 11, 8 October 1917, Page 4

OBITUARY

THE HON. J. D. ORMOND, M.L.C,

The death occurred at Napier on Saturday last of tho Hon. J. D. Ormond, M.L.C., at tho ago of So years. The deceased gentleman, who was one of the few remaining life members of the Legislative Council, gave almost continuous public service to this Dominion from the time of the early 'sixties, when bo was first elected Parliamentary representative for Clive, a Hawke's Bay conetituency, until his doath. Pew indeed aro thero who could point to so long and valued a period of Parliamentary service. Prom tho time he entered the' House of Eopresentativ63 in 1861 until the day of his death, 56 years later, he had only been absent from the legislative halls during ono Parlisinont. John Davis Ormond was born, in 1833 at Wallingford, England, and came to the colony at the age of 16. In 1849 1)8 became privato secretary to Mr. J3. J. Eyre, Lieutenant-Governor of Now Munstcr, as the South Island was then call»d. Soon after he removed to Harfke's Bay, and' on tho constitution of the district as a separate province under tho New Provinces Act of 1858, he was found warmly espousing the change. He was Superintendent of the Province in tho tiipe of tho Fox Ministry—between the ye&rs 1869 and 1872. He also actively cooperated with tho Pox Ministry at that time in restoring peace with the Natives. .As Government Aeent he had charge of fho East Coast district as far as East Capo on the one side and Taupo on the other. Ho directed operations during the trving times when To TCooti heM a threat of' destruction over tho inhabitants of this wide area. This period-'he afterwards described as tho most troublous time he had ever spent For his services tho deceased was specially thanked M>y Parliament. Some years previously deceased had come into contact witn oir Donald M'Lean, and the latter, during the period just referred to, was Native Minister, the two being prominent actors in the administration of the auairs of thb province. Later they became intimately associated in the Legislature, and each may be said to have been the alter ceo to tho other. Deceased subsequently became a member of four Ministries. He was Minister of .Public Works in tho Fox Government for nine months m 1872 and again in the Waterhou6e Administrate for 'a few days m the_BMno year; he was Secretary for Crown Lands 'and Minister for Immigration in the short-lived Atkinson of 1876, and in the reconstruction that followed lie was Postmaster-General and Commissioner of Telegraphs, but - quished them for his "H P"® 0 Public Works, which he held till tho resignation of the Government m lS^ TfcA linn rentlem&n was called to tiie UppeXlein 1891, and had^been wilar in his attendance. HO frequent speaker m recent years, Ws criticism and advice 17016 and received with respect by Minis and by his fellow-members. Apartjrom his Parliamentary work >e at various times gave valued service en various swfl«»?ysiSe of the Hawke's Bay A. and P. Assoc* U «cords of |.romi«nt known to New Zealanders, and tha<l . if his -tiveconnect rS tht^ i ,port .of horse-racing. He started no c lry ab f i° if had been , anyone else in tlle l» moro torses penod ho was racing with his Karamn stud other New Zeal an dor. Deceasc d w ero horses he bred himseii. un. was a liberal supporter of all raj tion. Of the more w ;ndeeA had Eft -e bee-on by popular much in the way of shared in inff of stud stock, ■ 1859 ®« B f n B tSdson merest, of £ri2AVSrt«d .bv three leavo fh. late dence of the deceased geD'tleman at pier to-morrow (Tuesday), at* 11 <um-