DEATH OF MR W. D. MURISON.

Dunstan Times, Issue 821, 11 January 1878, Page 3

DEATH OF MR W. D. MURISON.

We record this morning, Saturday, 29th December, IST7, with extreme regret, the death of Mr W. D. Murison, the editor of this journal, a resident in Otago for 21 years, die was well known by one and all, and it may seem almost superfluous to say anything of his useful and genial life, since nearly all our readers are well acquainted with the simple annals of his time among ua. There may be some, however, who desire to know more of one who had so many friends an 1 no enemies.

Mr W. D. Murison was born on the 24th of February. 1837, at Alyth, in Forfarshire, and was therefore in the prime of manhood when he was cutoff in his fortieth year. Ho was educated at tiie High School in Edinburgh, and came to Otago in 1556, at the age of 19, in company with the late Dr Hulme and other well known colonists. For some years 1m was a runholder in the Manioloto district, and in company with his brother went- throurh many hardships at that time. He represented the electoral district of Waikouaiti in the General Assembly in ISCO. It was nut, however, in the sphere of polities that lie was best known, although he was keenly alive to all matters of Colonial interest. He was best known and most loved in social life. Among other matters of general interest in which he took a useful part, we may mention the Acclimatisation Society, of which ho was President, and which has owed much of its success to his kindlv interest. He was for many years a warm friend of the cricketers of the p'ace, and those who remember his active form some eleven years since, have watched with sorrow the feebleness which troubled him in his later veafs. In conjunction with Dr Hector, Dr Eccles, and Mr A ugcl, he was one of the most aotlve promoteis of the New Zealand Exhibition in 1865, which was held in the present Hospital building. He was ah active promoter in the founding of the Benevolent Institution, took an important part in the founding of the Otago institute, of which ho was the first Honorary Treasurer ; was always a warm supporter of the establishment of the University, and a friendly critic of all its proceedings. With this journal he was connected as a Director since the late Times and Witness Company was formed. On February . Ist 1871, he took the position of permanent Editor of the Otago Daily Times and Witness, having previously on several occasions performed

the duties during the temporary absence of Air Vogel; and though for the past few months failing health prevented him from performing the more active duties of journalism, he retained his connection with this journal as Editor till his death. It is ini his capacity as a journalist that he will be best remembered. Coming as he did into contact with men of the most different interests arm dispositions, the gentleness of his minner, which rightly expressed the real kindliness of his heart, endeared him to one and all. In pursuance of his duties as editor of this journal, he was repeatedly called upon to express an opinion, or take a side, upon the most widely different matters. We doubt whether anyone who had to do with him, failed to notice and appreciate the urbanity of manners and the extreme gentleness of the views which he expressed. There are not many men in our midst upon whose sound judgment more implicit reliance could be placed. There are not many men who achieve a social position at a stride : of Mr Murison it might truly be said that he required to be well known to be understood. It is with no exaggeration of his virtues, no undue adulation of his talents, that we desire to express the deep regret of all Who knew him that he should have been taken away from us so soon. No one, perhaps, was more naturally retiring than ho was, and no one would have eared less for one kindly but inaccurate word of praise. It hardly becomes us, perhaps, to say here what ho did 'for this journal. At the same time we should insufficiently deal with his career if We did not say something of his wisdom and sound judgment as an editor. He gave, at least to all who knew the difficulties of his task, the impression of giving to it a large, liberal, and cultured intelligence, the most unbending integrity, ■ and the most earnest desire to do the right always, and 'the right alone. Calm and temperate in the expression of his opinions, almost judicial in the extreme impartiality with which he expressed himself, ho conveyed even to those who at times differed widely from him the impression of having formed his judgments after full and calm consideration. in his private circle of friends—and it was a larger circle than most men have - he has left a gap hard to fill. A wife and five children mourn his untimely death. Perhaps it would be difficult to find a more affectionate father, as well as a firmer friend. In the discharge of those family and social duties which often prove test duties to greater men, Mr Murison shone brightly. ‘Like many another man whose splash in the great sea of existence has attracted comparatively little attention, it will be found by many in this province that we have lost m Mr Murison one who could ill be spared, and we are mistaken if many a sigh of regret will not he given to the memory of one so affectionately and lovingly known.—Daily Times.