DEATH OF MR KIRKBRIDE, M.H.R.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3723, 6 November 1906, Page 3

DEATH OF MR KIRKBRIDE, M.H.R.

Auckland, Nov. 4,

Mr M. M. Kirkbride, M.H.R., for Manakati, died to-day, aged 58 years. He left Wellington in bad' health some time before the session was over, and was recently removed to a private hospital for treatment. The immediate cause of death was meningitis. His funeral will take place on Tuesday afternoon. Mr Kirkbride was an old colonist of the best type, and took a great interest in agricultural matters. Pie won the respect of people of all shades of political opinion.

Speaking to a press representative Mr Massey said: —“ Matthew Kirkbride was one of the most useful men in Parliament. He was a man of sound judgment and sterling integrity, and he had a strong sympathy for the settlers in the out districts,, His death will be sincerely regretted not only by the people on his own side in politics, but also by those supporters, of the Government who often came to him for advice when measures affecting local government were before the House. In his first session in Parliament die. .■managed to place a very useful piece of leg islatiou 011 the statue book—-the Mutual Fire Insurance Act, which allows residents in the country district to combine for the purpose of fire insurance. The act is becoming very popular, and is now in operation in most of the provincial districts, of the colony- Last session he got through a very useful amendment to the Government Valuation of Land Act. Mr Kirkbride was the representative of the district in which I live, and was one of my closest personal friends of many'yeiars-'standing. He was one of the men who me- ‘ to become a candidate for Parliament in 1893, when I first entered politics. We had worked together quite a number of years on local bodies, and as members of the Executive of the Auckland Agricultural and Pastoral Association-