Obituary

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 141, 26 May 1892, Page 2

Obituary

THE LATE DOUGLAS HASTINGS MACARTHUR, M.H.R. A painful sensation was experienced throughout the town and district last Tuesday when the news spread of the death of Mr D. H. Macarthur, after an illness of a few hours' duration. He had been attending to his business as usual at his office on Monday, the day previous to his death, and in the afternoon he visited the office of this journal, and, though feeling a little weak, he appeared to be in good spirits, and expressed his intention of going to Wellington the following day. On returning home late in the afternoon he suddenly became so ill that he was compelled to take to his bed. Dr Sorley was sent for, and found that he was suffering from congestion of certain areas of the brain, with partial paralysis of the left side of the body. At 10 o'clock Dr Sorley visited his patient and again at quarter to seven next morning, when he found that there had been a sudden extravasation of blood on the brain, and that Mr Macarthur was dying. At seven o'clock he died. The shock was a severe one to Mrs Macarthur, and she was entirely prostrated by the event. The painful occurrence had a most depressing effect upon the usual holiday festivities here, and we are quite sure that the family have the sympathy of the people throughout the whole of this district. Mr Macarthur leaves a wife and a family of three daughters. There is a sister of his also residing in Feilding, and we understand that there is another sister living in the south. He was 53 years of age, the greater part of which time he had spent in the colony. He arrived during the year 1856, when he was about 17 years of age, with the endowment of a good education, being a French scholar, and possessed of the knowledge of other languages. During the first two years after his arrival Mr Macarthur worked a farm near Collingwood, Nelson province. He brought out with him letters of introduction to several influential residents, but, with characteristic independence, he did not avail himself of them, and went to work on his own account at once, so that if he ever achieved success it would be entirely owing to his own industry. He worked as a miner at Collingwood, Deep Creek, in the Marlborough province, at the Dunstan in Otago, and on the Six Mile (Waimea) in Westland, also on Maori Gully, up the Arnold, on the Nelson South West goldfields, where he was moderately successful. When the settlement of the Manchester Biock was iniaugurated he received from the London office the appointment of sub-agent to the Corporation, Mr A. F. Halcombe being the chief. On the appointmont of the latter to the management of the Patetere settlement, Mr Macarthur was appointed in Mr Halcombe's stead. From his ar rival in the Manawatu he took a keen interest in all local matters. He was a member and chairman of the Manawatu County Council until the separation of the Oroua Couuty, of which body he was also a member and the chairman for some years. He was also chairman of the Manchester Road Board for several terms. He was District Coroner for a number of years, but resigned this position previous to entering Parliament. He was the first Mayor of the borough of Feilding, and held the office for two years. He was subsequently Mayor for a third term at the special request of the residents of the Borough. Deceased was also vice-President of the Feilding Jockey Club, and Patron of the Football Club. He served as Captain of the Manchester Rifles for some time until the state of his health compelled him to resign, but he remained an honorary member until his death. He was a member of the Forester's Court Loyal, Feilding, and a distinguished brother among the Freemasons, he having been Master of the Feilding Lodge, and Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand. He was nominated as Grand Master for the current year, but in order to avoid a contest, he withdrew in favour of the present Grand Master, Brother Niccol of Auckland. Besides other public position he was chairman of Director of the defunct Manawatu Shipping Company, and up to the time of his decease he filled the position of Chairman of Directors of the Palmerston Building Society. The late Mr Macarthur was the last of the old directors of the last-named institution at Palmerston North, his former colleagues —namely, Messrs Palmerston, McNeil, Clarke Dunn, and Waldergrave— having previously joined the great majority. He was the representative in the New Zealand Parliament of this electoral district for the last two Parliaments and on each election won his seat after hard and well fought contests. Of his career in the House we need make but brief mention. As an authority on finance and local self-government he had few equals in the House, and one of the best measures at present on the Statute Book— the Government Loans to Local Bodies Actowed its inception to the late Mr Macarthur. He was respected and esteemed by the members of all shades of political opinion. His ability was recognised on both sides of the House, and he was generally regarded as a still growing power for his party. He was offered a position in the last Atkinson Ministry, and would, no doubt, again have had the opportunity of becoming a member of the Government on the advent of his party to power, had he survived. Of his character in public and private life we cannot speak too highly. He was gifted with great mental powers, by which, aided by a strong will and the quality of intense application, he was able to overcome all obstacles which at first looked formidable and unsurmountable. He was capable of inspiring strong friendships, and it was well known that after a political campaign many of his most active opponents came over to his side, attracted by his many sterling qualities. Under a peculiarly rugged exterior be concealed a character for kindly humour as well as for keen wit, which was most unexpected when displayed, except among his intimates. No man ever went to him for counsel or advice and come away unsatisfied. He was careful in making promises, but when he did undertake to do a thing he never neg lected, or forgot, to make the perform ance equal to the promise. The work of colonisation as evidenced by the success of the Manchester Block Settlement, found a faithful servant in him. To his indomitable courage and perseverance must the present prosperity of Feilding and the other portions of this part of the colony, be largely attributed. In his private life he was a good husband and a kind father. He was born in Edinburgh July 25th, 1839. Telegrams of condolence have been received by the afflicted widow from all parts of the colony, and include a sympathetic message from the Most Worshipful Grand Master, Bro. M. Niccol, of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand. THE FUNERAL The funeral of the late Mr Macarthur took place this afternoon, and was largely attended. The various business places in town were closed. The brethren ofthe Masonic body, among whom were several distinguished officers of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand, assembled at the lodge room in Fergusson street, and, after the usual ceremonies, the procession was formed up by Past Master Bro. Charles Bray, who acted as Marshall, and marched in the following order to the late

residence of the deceased brother : — The Band of the Marton Royal Rifles, The Manchester Rifles, Fire Brigade, Foresters Masons, Hearse, Chief Mourners, Private Carriages, Horsemen, After receiving the casket the cortege proceeded to the Church of England, whero the first portion of the funeral ceromony was read, after which the prosession reformed, and wended its way to the Church of England cemetery. The Rev Mr Hermon officiated at the grave, and the usual Masonic services were also rendered, and the melancholy proceedings terminated. There was a very large attendance at the funeral, including friends from Wellington, Palmerston, Wangannui, and the surrounding districts.