DEATH OF MR. J. COLVIN, M.P.

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 30, 30 October 1919, Page 4

DEATH OF MR. J. COLVIN, M.P.

KNOCKED DOWN BY A TKAMCAU. One of tho best-known figures in the I House of Hoprosenlnlivo?. Sir. .lames f'olvin, who represented Iho liullor constituency, was accidentally killed last night at Iho osj-iior of Bunny Street and Feathers to n Strpnl. The tragedy occurred about 10.8 p.m. at Hie forner of Bunny and Featherston Streets. Mr. Colvin started to cross Fealhcrston Slreoi a , ! a Iramoai driven from Lnmbtnii stal'ion !>y Molorman Young approached. Tliprp is no compulsory stop at: the corner, lint Uie motoriuan apparently slackened his speed. Mr. Colvia attempted to gel over the lines before (lie car passed. An eye-witness states that when between the lines Jlr. Colvin appeared to hesitate. Ho was struck by the ear and thrown clear of the line. The car pulled up within "r-von pace*. Dr.?. IT. OPiner and P. V. M'Kvody wore summoned, and on arrival they pronounced life to be extinct. Sir Joseph Ward, and Messrs. G. Witly and U. M'Oallum. M.rVe, who were perBonal friends of the deceased, were very siiortly on the scene, mid they superintended arrangements for Hie removal of tho body. By permission of tho Commissioner of l'olice, the body was taken not to Ibe morgue, but to a mortuary chapel in Tnraniiki Street, where it now lies. Mr. Colvin died apparently from the effects of concussion.

The son of ,i (.oaslsniardsman, the late. Mr. Colvin was born in Donegal, Ireland, in IS 14. and .emigrated to Australia in W6l. After 'working on the- goldfiolds al Creswiclc Crook and Daylesford for pome months, he arrived in 1862 and was engaged in goldntining at Dnnstiin and Wukatipu, until removing to Waknmarina. He afterwards followed ptorekeepinjr at Wakamarina, Waimea, Hokitika. Grey Valley, Addison'p Flat, and Westport. From 18S, r ) to 1891 he was a member of the Bnller County Council, and in ISOfl he became chairman of tlie Westport Harbour Board. Tie served on the Nelson Education Board in IRM, and was Mayor of Westport from 189R to M. He was first elected to Parliament in the Liberal interest in December. 1899, when he defeated Mr. P. ,T. O'fiegnn . for the Buller seat. Mr.f Colvin was the senior Government Whip in 1908, and lie has sat in the House, continuously as the representative of Bnller until the present time. For two sessions in 1910 and 1911 he was Chairman of Committees, and in 1912 he was Minister of Mines in the Mackenzie Ministry.