OBITUARY.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2630, 22 July 1871, Page 2

OBITUARY.

With much regret we have this evening to record the death of an old and useful citizen, Mr John Gillies, whose name, though not amongst the promoters of the Otago colonisation scheme, must be associated with those of the early settlers, and to w'hose continuous exertions for a long series of years the Province owes much. Mr Gillies was born in Rothesay, Buteshire, on April 22, 1302, aud m his earlier years was an elder of the Proe Church of Scotland at the time of the disruption. For some time he was Town Clerk of Rothesay, and followed the profession of writer. Taking deep interest in the Otago scheme of settlement ho emigrated with his family, and arrived in the Slains Castle on the 6th November, 1352. He shortly aftor entered iuto partnership with J. Hyde Harris, Esq. at that time the only legal practitioner in Dunedin, and was admitted a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of the Colony. He was returned as one of the members of the nrst Provincial Council, and for some lime held the office of Speaker. In 1857 he received the appointment, under the General Government, of Sheriff aud Resident Magistrate of the Province of t >tago. He resigned the former office in August, 1863. In 18:11 ha was appointed to'the offices of Registrar of Births, &c., which be held till recently, Mr Gillies aided in founding Knox’s Church, aud has been an elder since the commencement. He was oue of the earliest advocates of the admirable educational system of the Province, and assisted ably in the pass'ng of the ordinances bearing upon it. The interest > hat he felt in this, perhaps the immortal feature iu the colonization of Otago, May be judged cf, that on his deathbed he more freiucntly alluded to it than to any other subject. apart from his interest in his family, is has passed away,.but his work remains to be fully developed in years to come.