DEATH OF MR. O’SULLIVAN

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2237, 14 November 1907, Page 2

DEATH OF MR. O’SULLIVAN

LIE BODY FOUND IN A PADDOCK AT AVHATAUPiOKO.

INQUEST TO BE HELD TOvDAY

The mystery connected with the disappearance of Mr. Denis O’Sullivan;, the . well-known life insurance oanyassor, was.-partially cleared nip yesterday afte-moon, when tlie worst l’ca-rs of his friends wore realised- by the finding of bis body in a paddock ■at AV'hataupoko. . The bod-v was-found c,n tlie rise a,t the back of Mr. AV. J. Hennessy’is residence, on the Rdvoraide-road, about a mile and a. half from town, and was discovered by cliancc, ahouib 4.15. by Mr. J-IcniiieSßy’s son, wli» was'getting in the cows. The police were at once informed, and Constables Irwin and Pratt proceeded to tlio spot about 0 i>.m. The body was found lying in an -almost inaccessible position am.ongst the thick scrub behind Air. Hennessy’s- house, a, considerable distance from the road. Deceased had apparently been, in a- sitting position, and had fallen- back; the legs were crossed, and the leftarm was slii.glutly uiiderneu.tli the body, with the right arm stretched out. Deceased’s hint and walkingstick were lying close to tho body, which was in a- very advanced stage of decomposition' and perfectly unrecognisable.To all appearances death had taken place at least a week previously. Owing to tlio ki.toness of tho hour it was found impossible to make a thorough search of tlio ground surrounding for anything to indicate the cause of death. Constable Irwin., ,however, is going over again this morning to make an additional oxia ini nation. The body .was idemt-i-, fled by Dr. Overton (the collkngue of deceased) as tli-ait- of Mr. O'Sullivan,. by ],; s watcli, which was inscribed J •wi th his name, and was a. p-resent-a- ; tion from the A.AI.P. Society. A gold chain and empty sovereign case were tho only other articles found. Many willing hands assisted the constables in their unpleasant task o-f removing tho body, but special mention should bo made of Alessrs. A Van. Hall and Hilton' Lyisnar, whose practical assistance was much appreciated. After considerable difficulty the body was removed and priced m the Alorgue at about 8 p.m. A post-mortem examination of the body will be made at the Alorgue this morning. An inquest will be held this afternoon, at which (in the absence of Mr. Barton, Coroner, _wlio is at, AA’airoa) Air. E. AV. Riach, J.P., will officiate.

Application has been made to, the authorities by the relatives of the late Air. O’Sullivan for permission, to, .remove.the remains to AA’c-Hliin-gtori for interment. It is probable, however, that the fact of the body having remained uniimterred for so long may prove- an obstacle to this course being followed. SOME PERSONAL DETAILS. Deceased was 58 ve-ars of age at the time of his death, having been born at Richmond, Nelson, in 1849. As a. young man lie' was engaged as -accountant at Picton, and left that place to commence on his own account in the timber trade in Canterbury. Later lie joined the A.AI.P. Society as canvasser, and remained with that institution for over 20 years. During that period, he travelled from one end of the country to the other, anil became well known as one of the most successful as well! as one of the most pop-wlir of life insurance representatives on the road. About nine months ago he accepted a position with the Government Life Insurance Department, and was canvassing Gisborne district in the interests of the State Office up to the tiui-e of Iris death. As a matter of fact, on the amie morning that he disappeared so mysteriously, Air. O’Sullivan was engaged in discussing one or two cases that Dr. Overton had been sent up to report upon. Apart from his ordinary business, Mr. O’Sullivan’.s literary attainments, coupled witli Ins keen powers of observation, gained him. an excellent remiti.itioii as a journalist, and under the uom do plume of “Dun-i-otS'TVew _ §feaian'cl^j ournals. At times he made use of the correspondence columns of the newspapers, and- a few days before his death lie wrote several letters to this journal controverting the statements made by iSir Robert Stout during the hearing of tlie Te Ami assessment case here concerning the alleged child Slavery in Taranaki. Air. O’Sullivan’s long residence in tlmt province enabled him to write with considerable authority on that subject. The supposition that the death of Air. O’Sullivan, was in no way premeditated is borne out by the contents of a letter written by him. to Ills wife in AA’ellington, and' bearing the GiHborne dlrte of Sunday, Nov. 3. - The letter commenced :—“I received your letter to-day, and a.m really sorry to learn that so many of the family are knocked out of action.” After expressing a wish that their health would soon show an im-

provement, the writer proceeded: “I am in prime health. I was wondering tlie other day why I never feel giddy now. I limey Doth that feeiling anil tho stiffness of ithe joints have left me altogether. I can walk four miles an hour now as gaily as ever I did.” It is also an interesting fact that Air. o’‘Sullivan had intended writing a series of articles for. insertion in this journal, and on tho Friday before lie disappeared called in with the first instalment of what he intended to be a series.

About two years ago deceased bad a bad attack of typhoid fever, and since that time occasional fits of giddiness which had troubled him off and on for several years before became more frequent. However, as indicated in his last letter, they had apparently not occurred recently. His son, Mr. E. J. O’Sullivan, states that his father had no financial worries of any kind, and so far as the family knew lie was in the best of spirits. The deceased leaves a wife and eight of a family (five daughters and three sons), all grown up. THE LAST OF “DTJNBOY.” THE DECEASED'S MESSAGE TO THE PEOPLE OF POVERTY BAY, As already mentioned, the late Mr. O’fe’ullivan had a colonial reputation ns a journalist, and the following article, the last of his literary contributions, which was intended as the first- of a series, has, under the sad circumstances, a pathetic interest-:-THE LAND OF MISNOMER. (By Dunboy.) EXPLANATORY. My reader, in introducing the matter of these letters, I think it necessary to offer a few words of explanation with regard to myself and the circumstances under which I am presuming to address you; I trust the apparent egotism of this course will not weigh against mo in your judgment of my efforts. To you, my reader, I am probably an utter stranger. I have not the advantage of being ii resident of this delightful locality; hut let me also explain that I cannot legitimately claim any one corner ot God’s earth as a place of permanent abode. You, possibly, are the happy possessor of a home near by, where, in the. bosom of your family, and amid congenial surroundings, you calmly view life with that comfortable kind of philosophy which roosts so snugly in the soul of the comfortably prosperous man. lam but- a wanderer through life’s wilderness, who may not tarry by the wav-side, and, hence, 1 may take'(an entirely different view of things to that which fills your contented vision.

In one word, on many points you and I may not agree, but that fact will not prevent mo from telling you what I honestly believe with reference to your institutions, your town, and your district. Let me at once admit the possibility that in wliat 1 am about to advance I may be wrong, but a man who never makes a mistake never makes anything.

On closer (acquaintance you may detect in my admonitions what strikes you as the tones of the cynic, but to all charges of cynicism I plead not guilty.’' All I aspire to is a position 'which I find unaccountably vacant—the position of Gisborne s candid

On this pleasant Sunday afternoon, you, my kindly reader, are probably seated in the pleasant shade of the vino and fig tree, which with your your own bands you planted long years ago.- For your delectation come tho music of children’s voices, and tho kindly greetings of life-long friends; for mo there is no vine—no fig tree, and no greeting, save only the inoxorablo mandate of the Fates ever bidding mo to move on. In moving on oho ,soes things. Xfc has been claimed that deprivation of one sense will bo compensated for by tho birth of some special faculty; thus the blind man displays hyporsensitiveness of touch and acuteness of bearing. Wanderer, as I am destined to be, I have come to look on a.ll men a.s my friends ; oil my path the stranger never 'appears to intrude: with you, my Gisborne readers, I seek the boon of friendship, even though it ho for the hours that soon shall have fleeted from us. So, too. have I grown to find pleasure on tho wayside of life—untold beauties in tho wilderness. Tho forest-clad mountain, the fairylike ravine, half hidden by dainty robes of fern fronds; the gcm-liko

lakelet, with its setting of rude and rugged grandeur; tho dizzy -heights and ma jestic gorges of this, my native

land, have, wooed and won me with their irresistible charm. 11l Gisborne and its picturesque surroundings one may find much to Booth and satisfy the tastes of the most exacting con-

noisseur in scenery, but of sucb attractions I will ask permission to deal in Eomo futuro issue. Before even

approaching that fascinating subject I am met by an anachronism and a misnomer rolled into one, and with this I ask permission to deal forthwith.

“POVERTY BAY.”

Why “Poverty,” my friends? What has this fair district done that you should characterise it with a word which is a stigma, a libel, a lie? Of courso you may proceed to unearth some musty legend about Captain Cook which you think justifies the title. Then established custom will bo trotted out, though established custom has been rightly described 'as that which only too frequently embodies the sins and vices of those who have lived and sinned and died before :is. Besides, in all matters you were certainly not guided by the ancient navigator. Did he not tell you that this was a poor place, 'and have you not come hero and made a competence? Did he not characterise New Zealand as a country little fitted for sett,lenient, and is it not now known as God’s Own Country? “What harm in 'a title?” asks the prosperous farmer, with liis produce at top-notch prices in the far-off markets- of the world. “Wliat’s in a name?” ' demands the merchant, growing opulent because of the dearth of healthy opposition. There are timerj when an opprobious term may help ahead some ciuestionable kind of business. More than one fortune is said to have been made in an oldtime London inn which bore the repulsive title of “DIRTY DICK’S,”

but, then, tho establishment was true to name, and the undoubted character of the house appealed to those who felt more at home when drinking from unwashed mugs which were passed to them over the counter never once relieved of its beer stains. Thither flocked that large class to be met with in every considerable city—a class to whom respectability carries uncomfortable and disquieting feelings. The unswept floor, the cobwebbed ceiling, and filthy surroundings lent a flavor to the beer to the drinker who was to the manner born.

But, my friends, you 'are not catering for the scallywag. Your duty is to bequeath to posterity not only tho fruits of your toil and experience, but also a country, a nation free from stain or reproach. To those who claim that Poverty Bay is already sufficient!v progressive I can renlxmodern progress the Dominion itself is sadly lagging behind. The flood of humanity ever flowing from older.countries comes not near our shores. Thirty or forty years •ago the country wus far more progressive, because every Ship came laden with that sturdy material of which nations are built. With a falling birth-rate and a languid, almost dying, immigration system, we '.are simply inviting national annihilation. The contented man is generally on the down grade; the contented nation is feebly ringing aits own death-knell. New Zealand, to

take its i>lace among t-lie peoples of the world, must remove the stigma of stagnation;. the integral portions of the Dominion must also, awaken to their manifest share in the duty of nia.tion-ibiiikling. " That which describes an important part of the country as unfitted for settlement can surely do nothing but harm to both the community and the country. Your district is rich beyond compare. Your lands are second to none in the universe. Where at present they carry a population of a few thousand, who depend almost entirely on foreign markets for subsistence, tens of thousands of prosperous settlers could make comfortable homes. Local manufactures would flourish, and the producer would be rendered immeasurably more inde-

pendent than he is to-day. I have a, cynical friend —-not perbnps quite responsible for his notions —who declares that the povertystricken title of this part of the Dominion is most appropriate, seeing that the community has displayed such a poverty of intellect during past years that they can neither realise the absurdity of the title nor invent a decent substitute. I a,m

not prepared to full ill with this view; I simply lay the blame at tlie door of the prosperous men in your midst, who, holding the district in the hollow of their hands, have grown insular, contented, and, to a. certain extent, selfish. There % are many appropriate titles for your favored settlement; there are few less satisfactory thin the one of which you now boast. If I offer a, suggestion for your consideration let me not be deemed too presumptuous. My suggestion may lead to others.i

HINBMOA

is a word not sufficiently honored in tin’s Dominion. I asm not a student of Maori lore, but I understand that tills term describes the canoe which brought to these shores the first contingent of the original inhabitants.

Hmemos is a word with, a musical ring. For the most historic spot in New Zealand —a hay which witnessed the change from the old to the new order- of things—some such Maori title would embody a graceful tribute to that grand old race which is now .passing away. I venture to throw out the idea, not only because I think such Maori nlimes have a claim on our consideration, but also becairseCHineinioa was publicly suggested a’ few years ago as the most appropriate title for thev oolony.

The geography cf this country is full of misnomers, foremost among which comes the ridiculous term ‘‘New Zealand.” What connection is there between us and the Netherlands? Why this Dutch mime For a British dependency ?

In the early clays of the colony tbo inhabitants were composed of a few uarcly settlers whose rough lot caused them to think frequently of the scenes with which they had been as•woelated in older countries; hence many a title which to the mind of the colonial horn man seems absolutely absurd and misleading. I feel sure tb,it one cay there will come a demand for many fresh- titles more in keeping with the country and the aspirations of the inhabitants, and then, if not sooner, the misnomer “Poverty Bay” shall disappear from our maps.

TAIHOA. Again my cynical friend approaches w-ith his uncharitable remarks. This time he says that “Taihoa” would be the most appropriate tie's-

ignation for the coumbi'y wliicfli form» your lovely i environment; out on wba.fc ground/; think yon ? ~®~ dares that one has only to step aslloro from a passing boat, and spend an hour or two in your midst to bo impressod with the idea tbut * -lonhoa” or should bo the motto oif those who run the place oivically, politically—yea,. even re-, ligionslly—if I may use his own language. , . Ho points to the water supply now (tardily creeping into the town, and asks why it was dammed back these ten years posit. Ho produces statistics to show that fevers and other preventable diseases have stalked 'grimly through your streets, claiming their victims from nearly every household; and tUxis, he sayjs, has gone on for many a weary year 3 ,swm•ply because ordinary sanituiry precautions were studiously neglected. He calls imperiously for the information regarding any other town, of Gisborne’s size in this vast Dominion which has not Jong since had its water supply, its drainage works, and all those other safeguards which modem science iirociliiins as necessary conditions of life to any community claiming to be fully civilised. ;Mv friend is certainly a .trifle severe" when lie gets these turns, but it is really a question for the ethical mind whether, in the present state of advancement, the authorities _of .any community can altogether shirk the direct responsibility of an abnormal deil.th-rate occasioned by a neglect of the laws of modern sanitation. e „ There may be room for diiierence on this line of reasoning, but i.t is better to take precautions than to harbor a doubt on so grave a. question ; better to pay rates ten times over than to. follow the funeral procession of members of your family, who, under more 'favorable conditions, would still be with you. Si' I ... 1 ~ „.-!■ I. n 7:1 Olir/l/l .*

Gisborne people r-a n not:- be allowed/ to blow both hot and cold. If Poverty Bay is so prosperous that- it can afford to live down the evil reputation embodied in its title, then the inhabitants cannot plead inability to carry out those works of necessity which very n-rooerly have been the first thought of’much less important communities. Header, do you care to follow me in the investigitiio-ns which follow as a necessary corollary to what I have already written? Do- you feel like criticising my remarks, or condemning the writer and. his Utopian views? Free discussion can do no harm on any p-u-blic question. It is indifference which kills every good cause, -and I shall, be flattered and highly rewarded if in my letters on Poverty Bay and . its . affairs I succeed in awakening public interest. I feel sure that any writer who may oppose me will have at heart the same object which prompts the writer of these lines- —the well-being of New Zealand at large, -and of this district and its people ill particular.