OBITUARY.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1729, 4 September 1879, Page 2

OBITUARY.

THE LATE WILLIAM LUCAS. During the past month another of the.few surviving band of Canterbury settlers, who were residents in Canterbury when the firstfour ships cast anchor ra Lyttelton harbor, has passed away from our midst. Those who were acquainted with him, and, more particularly, those who had the privilege of calling him friend, will k»ow it is no figure of speech to say that the death of William Lucas has deprived Canterbury of a man who for honest straightforwardness and truthful integrity had few equals. He was a man always ready to give his coucael and .'advice when it was sought, and, what is more, to unostentatiously assist his less fortunate brethren when in distress or privation. As an instance of the latter may be cited the case of a Ferry road resident, who, when sold up somefew years ago, was sought out byLucas, and told if he could find a piece of land that would J suit he (Lucao) would find the money to purchase it for him, and givehim pessession. The land to the extent of 500 acres was selected in the Ashburton district and purchased by Lucas, he giving, the man in question a 60-years' lease of thesame at a rental representing five per cent, on the purchase money. To the woes of the widow and fatherless he never turned a deaf ear. He might have been, perhaps, somewhat peculiar in his ways, but his greatest peculiarity was never to let his right hand know what his left hand did.

He firßt landed in Sydney just before the great gold discoveries in Australia, and worked as a miner for some time. Afterwards he took to shepherding, and finally cam: | to New Zealand, landing at Dunedin, where he obtained employment with the late "Mr Johnny Jon -a." From thence he came to Akaroa, where he was given work by the Resident Magistrate, Mr Robinson, Here, he was engaged in shore whaling. He subsequently started a cattle station at Land's End, one of the heads of Akaroa harbor, in conjunction with Mr Ellis, now a sheep farmer near Oxford. Their partnership, however, was terminated before the station buildings were completed; but Mr Lucas held on to it for several years, making money, and ultimately be bought his homestead. Then ho purchased the house and land in Gre>xaan Bay, formerly belonging to the agent of the Nanl e -Bordelaise Company. As he prospered he purchased more land in Akaroa and its vicinity. After a time he let his property on the Peninsula, taking up his abode in the Ferry Road, where he died a few days since. We understand that tbe whole of his property is held in trust by his widow, and at her death is (in tenor of his will) bequeathed to the Orphanage and other charitable institutions.