OBITUARY.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 335, 22 December 1875, Page 2

OBITUARY.

DEATH of SERGEANT STANHOPE. In our last issue, we stated .that there was a probability Stanhope surviving the severe attack of inflammation of the bowels, with 1 which he was seized a few days previously; but although he was slightly better on Friday, and although the usual remedies 'or his recovery were carefully applied, lie did not sufficiently rally to warrant a belief that the attack would not terminate fatally. On Saturday afternoon, about six o’clock, he expired in the perfect possession of all his faculties. Sergeant Stanhope, whose age was nearly thirtytwo years, and who was a native of Staffordshire, England, was formerly in the Melbourne police force, where, we understand, he had so distinguished himself, as to have been considered a very efficient officer. He joined the Armed Constabulary of New Zealand about five years ago, and had been stationed in Gisborne during the past two years. He was well liked by the public, and his demise, in the prime of life, is much regretted. The deceased, being a Mason A many years’ standing, was buried with Masonic honours. His funerah which took place on Monday afternoon, was largely attended. The following was the order of the procession:—

ITyleb, With drawn sword. Stewards, Carrying white Rolls. Master Masons. Marshall. Officers of the Lodge, Carrying the Holy Bible open. Senior Members of the Lodge. Past Masters. Worshipful Master. Clebgy. Pall Beahebs (Coffin) Pall Beabebs. (Masons.) (Masons.) The Fraternity met at the Lodge at half-past two o’clock in the afternoon, and formed themselves into a procession to the residence of the late Brother Stanhope. Thence they continued in procession to the outskirts of the town, where conveyances were provided for them. At the cemetery the procession was again re-formed to the grave, when the burial service was read by the Rev. E. Williams, followed by the Masonic service, which was conducted by Worshipful Master Wilson. The brethren then returned to the Lodge. Unfortunately, during the whole of the ceremony, heavy rain descended. Sergeant Stanhope leaves a wife and one child to mourn his loss. We understand that the cause of his death originated in a cold caught by him, whilst searching for the body of the late Mr. Mill.

DEATH OF J. R. WYLLIE, ESQ.

It is with deep regret we have to record the death of one of the oldest settlers of Poverty Bay—Janies Ralston Wyllie, Esq.—which melancholy event took place at his residence, Mungapapa, near Gisborne, on Sunday evening last, the 19th instant, about half past eleven o’clock. Mr. Wyllie had been ailing for some days past; but neither himself nor his family apprehended that his latter end was so near as it proved to have been. It ought, however, to be borne iu mind that “ In the midst of lifewe are in death; ” but this is a truism which but few practically realise. Mr. Wyllie was born near the ancient town of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland, in 1831, and was consequently, in his forty-fourth year when he died. He was of a highly respectable and well-to-do family, whose ancestors resided in AyrI shire for upwards of two centuries. One of his uncles—the late James Ferguson Wyllie, Esq.,—was for nearly forty years Chamberlain to the late Most Noble, the Marquis of Breadalbane, in Perthshire, Scotland, and was considered one of the best managers of large estates in North Britain. As is the general custom in Scotland—even with people who are in comparatively humble circumstances—his parents gave the subject of this notice a liberal education. After attending the Parochial School of Kilmarnock sufficiently long to qualify him for academical matriculation, he was sent to the University, which he attended for several sessions, and at which he was an apt student. His parents intended him for one of the Learned professions, but from some cause or other, their intention was not carried out. Endowed with a lively, imaginative, and expansive mind, Mr. Wyllie, after leaving the University, felt disposed to travel in the Highlands, to behold the tnagnificent scenery of that country, of Which he had heard and read so much ; and in pursuance of such a desire, he, at the age of twenty, or twenty one, visited the Western Hebrides, including Islay, in which island he was, for some time, a guest at the hospitable mansion of the late Laird of Balnaby — brother of the present Resident Magistrate of Waiapu, Mr. Campbell. Having returned home from, his travels in the land of the Gael, he shortly afterwards emigrated to Victoria, from which colony he arrived iu Auckland in 1853 —just twenty two years ago. After remaining in Auckland for a few months, he removed) to Poverty Bay—then inhabited by only a few Europeans—where he took up his permanent abode. Por some time after ins arrival, he conducted Capt. Read’s business at Makaraka, and subsequently embarked in a concern of his own. On the 14th August, 1854, he was united in marriage to Miss Kate Halberd, eldest daughter of Mr. Thomas Halberd, one of the earliest Poverty Bay settlers, in whom he found a worthy helpmeet. Mrs Wyllie’s mother was achieftainessof! influence of (we believe) the Whanauakaij tribe.

a In 1865 he occupied the position of ■lnterpreter to the Colonial Forces at ■Poverty Bay, under Colonel (then Major) SFraser, whose exploits are well known in ■connection with the Maori wars. In ths ■double capacity of Interpreter & volunteer, BMr. Wyllie was present at the storming Hof the Waerenga-a-hika pa, where he is Ssaid to have not played the coward. In ■the war, which at this time raged, and ■which proved so disastrous to the Church of England Mission at Wierenga-a-hika, Mr. Wyllie who was then residing at Tutoko, (now Mr. J. Uren’s residence) suffered, in common with others, great loss—a considerable portion of his property having been destroyed by the enemy. He afterwards assisted Mr. Atkinson, R.M., Crown Agent, as an attache of the Native Department, in preparing cases for the Native Land Commission; and also materially aided the Government in obtaining signatures to the celebrated Deed of Cession of the Poverty Bay lands to the Queen—his knowledge of the native language and Maori customs contributing greatly to the facilitation of this important work. In 1868, or 1869, he received an appointment under the Stafford Ministry as Native Interpreter, which office he held until the advent of Mr. (now Sir Donald) M‘Lean, to office as Native Minister, when, from some unfortunate disagreement with the Government, his (Mr. Wyllie’s) connection with the Native Department ceased; and believing himself to be in the right, he assumed an antagonistic attitude to the Government, which attitude he maintained ever since. At the time of the Poverty Bay massacre, Mr. Wyllie was residing at Tutoko, where he and his family narrowly escaped that horrible fate which befe) those, whose lives were sacrificed to the bloodthirsty Te Kooti and his party. Te Kooti, it would appear, made sure of finding Mr Wyllie and family at their residence, after his return from murdering Major Biggs and his wife; but owing to a timely warning given by a friendly native, they were enabled to effect their I escape. , Mr. Wyllie’s eldest son—a promising youth of thirteen—was afterwards brutally murdered at Opou, near Messrs: Harris and Ferguson’s station homestead, on the 12th December, 1868. During the past four or five years Mr. Wyllie resided on his estate at Mungapapa, about two miles from Gisborne, where he built a commodious and comfortable mansion, on an elevation overlooking the Bay. Having acquired considerable property he has left his family, consisting of Mrs. Wyllie and four sons and three daughters, in comfortable circumstances. Mr. Wyllie was a man of great natural abilities ; and having had a good education, he possessed an acute and discriminating mind,capableof much improvement. His mental perception being singularly vivid, he was not at a loss to comprehend readily, what appeared toothers of less peroeptivepowers than himself, tobeabstruse. He was, moreover, a warm hearted and generous friend ; and there are few in the district, if any, who will not deeply regret his death. His funeral which will, no doubt, be largely attended, takes place! this afternoon, at two o’clock, and being! a Presbyterian, the service at the grave will be performed by the Rev. W. H. Root.