DEATH OF DR. WEBSTER.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 807, 12 November 1878, Page 2

DEATH OF DR. WEBSTER.

Another olil and highly respected settler has paid the last debt of Nature. Auother of the noble band to -whose energy, perseverance, and public labors Oamaru and the surrounding districts are indebted m no small degree for their present state of prosperity, has been removed from the scene of his useful life, and has departed for that " Undiscover'd country from whose bourne No traveller returns."' We allude to Dr. Webster, whose death it is to-day our painful duty to record. The deceased gentleman had reached the age of CO years, but until within the past few months he might he said to have been in the very vigor of life and energy. Those who saw him but a short time since, on his return from a visit to the Mother Country, would scarcely have imagined that within so short a time he would have so gradually gone down to his grave. I):-. Webster had been ill for four months, suffering from a species of heart disease. From the first his recovery was despaired of, hut it was hoped that his end would not come so soon. Bit by bit he gradually sank lower and lower, and succumbed about a j quarter to three o'clock yesterday. The ] lamented gentleman was for 25 years a snr- ! geon in the army, and attained to a rank eq nal |to that of major-general. He entered the service at the age of 21 years, and served in I the West Indies, being afterwards stationed in Australia. On retiring from the army he came to New Zealand, and made his home in thi3 district some fourteen years- since. Here he turned his talents and great experience to use for the benefit of the district, as well as for his personal advancement. For several years he represented Oamn.ru ! district in the Provincial Council, and during that time he labored hard for the welfare of North Otago, lie was also one of the first members of the Oamaru Harbor Board, and took an active part in the management of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association. Besides fulfilling cheerfully and thoroughly the duties to these offices, Dr. "Webster was always one of the most foremost supporters of every institution calculated to promote the advancement, welfare, and happiness of the people. His purse was ever ! open and heart and hand ever ready to push forward every undertaking having for its object the promotion of social well-being, intellectual advancement, and physical development of all classes. Such a course as that pursued by the deceased gentleman could have but one end, He made a host of friends and admirers, everyone of whom will regret to hear of his death. Whether as a public man or a private gentleman he gained and retained the respect and good wishes of air who came in contact with him : while many who were not drawn into intercourse with him will long bless his memory for the kindly assistance he bestowed in fostering institutions the benefits of which will last for years to come. Follow him wherever we may, look at him in every capacity, we find him the same genial, liberal, benevolent, and open-hearted gentleman. In his many public capacities, he obtained the respect and esteem of his coadjutors for his thoroughness of purpose," while in private life his genial temperament and friendly disposition gained for him the love and friendship of ail who knew him. In Dr. Webster, the district has lost one of its best men—a man whose place it will be hard to fill. Well may we speak of him in the words of the immortal bard—- " Ho was a man, take him for all in all, We shall not look upon his like again. 5 ' —Dr. Webster leaves a wife and a family of seven to mourn his loss. His second son is now on his way from the Old Country, and is daily expected to arrived at Port Chalmers by the" ship Dunodin. The funeral will leave Balruddery Station at 10 a.m. on Thursday, and is oxpectod to arrive at the Town Boundary at half-past two o'clock.