Death of Dr. Menzies, M. L. C.

Feilding Star, Volume X, Issue 30, 21 August 1888, Page 3

Death of Dr. Menzies, M. L. C.

[1 ' { PER UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION. | o Invekcakgill, August 19. a- Dr J. A. Menzies, M L.C., and th c first Superintendent of Southland, die* h yesterday evening at his residence Q near Wyndham, aged 67, The caus B of death was pneumonia, complicate* . with jaundice. This district has nov a no representative in the Legislativ v i Council. 5 August 20. j The funeral of Dr Meßzies, M.L.C. 3 to-morrow, will be conducted with i r i Celtic ceremonial. j

3 Dr Menzies was the oldest membe: of the Legislative Council, having sa in the Chamber since 1858. He wai born in Perthshire, graduated as i physician at Edinburgh, aud then vis ited Australia. Leaving there he came to New Zealand, and was one o; the earliest settlers in Southland where he bought land, and has Hvec for over 30 years. He early took ar active part in political life, and wher Southland revolted from Otago anc became an independent province ht was elected the first Superintendent, holding that office till the abolition oi the provinces. In 1858 he was called to the Legislative Council, of which he has been an active member ever since, rarely missing any work. He was President of the Caledonian Society in Southland, and was fondly called "The Chief." He married Letitia, eldest daughter of the late Dr Isaac Earle Featherston, and leaves two daughters and a son. In conse* quence of the sudden death of his manager, Dr Menzies left Wellington on Wednesday in the previous week, and on the journey home caught a violent chill, which ended in bronchitis and pneumonia. His illness only lasted nine days, and he grew worse so rapidly that almost at the beginning his friends were greatly alarmed. He suffered very great pain throughout his illness.