DONALD MPHERSON.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1040, 24 March 1882, Page 3

DONALD MPHERSON.

The following sketch of tho late Donald M'Phergnu appears in th e Norn iny Herald. The news has reached flow Zealand that Donald M'Phersou has passed tho final bourne. His death is attributed to a railway accident, of which no particulars arc known. He was once a wealthy storekeeper in Clyde— better known as Dunstan—and on one occasion bo stood against and defeated Mr (now Sir Dillon) 801 l for a scat in the Provincial Council. Tho Dunstan disdistrict was then included in a huge electorate, and tho place of nomination was at Padau-Aratn, as Mr M‘Masters fancifully designated Iris station on the Maniototo Plains. It was a sort of Old Sarinn election business. Two or three innholders met, and partook of luncheon at Mr Master’s hospitable abode, and “ over tbe walnuts and the wine”—rather, perhaps, over the mutton and the damper—they were wont to decide who should lie their member. So things passed on unheeded ■till 18G5, when this primitive order of things was disturbed by tbe appearance at ParianAram one tine election day of about fifty Dunstan folks—miners rand traders—headed by the late M r Geor_,e Brodie, and escorting Mr Donald M'Pherson. “ What the uinpliumph do you ~-ant here ?” cried Mr M‘Master. Soon it was revealed to him that “ miching malico ” was intended. Donald was proposed in opposition to Ml Dilliou Bell, who was the chosen oue of the squatters, and Donald was returned as M.P.C. In those days Dunedin possessed a Punch, m one of one earliest numbers of which this event was celebrated m some rhymes commencing thus : Tinkle, tinkle, little Bell, Hmv you wandered at the sell When the Dunstan diggers came To defeat your little game. Mr M’Pherson did not loptnjlargely as a public man except iu bulk. During the first session he spake not at all. HD constituents reproached him tnereon, arid he promised to do,better next time. The following session of the Provinciil Council was held in Farley’s Music Hall iu that part of ! Princes street then populary designated “The Cutting.” One night Julius Vogel and George Brodie were having a furious set-to about something, and the chimney was having a furious smoking tit at t'oe same time. It was on this occasion, by the way, that Vogel in his anger called Frederick Moss “ a pale reflex oi the Provincial I Secretary M r Thomas Dick—a joke ! which those -who remember the native pal-

lor of the one and the exuberant marines of the other will he able to appreciate. However, the smoky chimney set them all coughing. A temporary lull occurred iu the debate, when the burly from of Donald M ‘Pherson arose. It was his second session and his maiden speech. Expectation was on tiptoe. Addressing the Speaker— Major Richardson-afterwards Sir John, Donald exclaimed, “Maister Speaker, a’ the reek’s coming down the him.” Then he sat down. It was his first oratorical effort and his last.

When he was interviewed by his constituents on one occasion, he was thus addressed by. an inquisitive elector—“ Mr M'Pherson, 1 have always supported you ; : but I never yet heard you express any ! opinion nu the land question.” To which ; Donald, grimly smilnu.', responded, “No, laddie; an' ye never wulh” lo another who speered at him what had he done for the district, he replied, “ I got ye one bunder’and fifty pounds for the punt road.” H And where’s the money?” pursued the ■questioner- “In my pock-ponk, laddie," retorted Donald, “ and there it's like to bide." Donald was himself the proprietor of the punt over the Molyneux, and made the road referred to. He was not always over eager to accommodate passengers. A resident of Clyde once went to him to tell hint that some people on the far side of the river had been coeying for an hour for him to go over with his punt to c oss them. “ Aye, aye said he with the utmost snvrj Jroid —“ and if they were as tirod of coeyiog as 1 am of listening to them they’d have stopped ,ong ago ” Donald has gone at last, and in an untirneous fashion. Those who knew his many sterling qualities will think of him with kindly regret. To those who knew him not it can only he told that another landmark of the past has fallen to decay. They are going fast now. Of the five persons mentioned in this brief notice only two survive, and ’tis only a few years ago since they all met in Farley's Hall.