OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 254, 22 July 1919, Page 4

OBITUARY

MR, P. SHERIDAN,

News was received from Gisbornii yesterday of tho death of, Mr. Patrick Sheridan, of Wellington, a member of the Public Service, who was welt known and universally respected throughout the Dominion. Mr, Sheridan occupied the position of Native Lands Purchase Officer for many years, and was esteemed by whites and Natives aliko for the integrity of his dealings'(involving millions of pounds sterling) with the Maori population. His knowledge of tho history of every block of Nativo land and the accuracy of his memory made his services of value to tho Slate, and though he retired from the position of Nativo Lauds Purchase Officer a few years ago, his advice and counsel were always at tho disposal of tho officers of the Nativo Department whenever ho was in Wellington. Tho late Mr. Sheridan was an Army man, and a veteran of the Maori War. Ho was born in 1841 at Mewrv, Ireland, and spent his youth in Waterford, whero he graduated as a telegraph operator. Lator ho was employed as. a. telegraphist in Dublin. Thero he enlisted in tho Army at a time when the recruiting officers were busy, and was drafted as a member cf the 14th (Buckinghamshire) Regimont to Manchester, and from there the regiment sailod for New Zealand. arriving in time to participate in tho second campaign against tho Natives of Waiknto and Taranaki. After the regimont left Now Zealand and went to Melbourne (where thero was n good deal of lawlessness to contend with owing to the gold rush), Mr. Sheridan was paid off, and returned a married man to New Zealand, and resumed work under the Government of the day, subsequently becoming tho modium between the Government and the Natives for tho acquisition of Nativeowned land. Since his retirement from the service lie has lived alternately iu Wellington and Gisbornc, and when in this city n couple of weeks ago was apparently in tho best of health and spirits. The Into Mr. Sheridan, whose wife predeceased him somo three years ago, leaves a family of three sons and four daughters. iTlie sons are Mr. Joseph Sheridan, of To Puke; Mr. Marius Sheridan, of Ohristchurch; and Mr. Philip Sheridan, of Gisbornc, Another son, Mr. John Sheridnn, of Gisborne, died of the epidemic in Auckland during last November. Tlio daughters aro Mrs. Ilnrcus Plimmer, of Wellington; Mrs. John O'Brien of Wellington; .Mrs. Harold Carr, of Gisbornc; and Miss Roso Sheridan, of Wellington.