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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1324, 3 July 1883, Page 2

Another Otago pioneer, having reached the green old age of 80 years, passed over to the great majority on Thursday last, at his residence, Ferguslie, in the North East Valley, near Dunedin. We refer to Mr. John Duncan, who arrived in the ship Philips Lainy, in 1847. The deceased gentleman, although possessed of a fair share of the canniness inherent in all Scotchmen, had a generous heart, and many Colonials will call to mind the happy hours spent “aroond the ingle,” in his house. Nothing afforded him greater pleasure than to gather around him B number of young folks, and relate to them the progress the world had made in his day, which he could do with a vividness that is not often compassed. By means of the artifices which the old identities had to adapt, and the care and forethought of a pendent man, Mr. Duncan acquired con■iderable property about Maori Hill and the North East Valley, and the hospitality of •* Ferguslie ” is to this day a household word. Truly may it be said of him that he lived an honoured life and died the death of a Christian. He was an ornament to the Presbyterian Church, in which he was an officer for many years and up to the time of his decease. Though “ lost to sight” he will remain “ to memory dear ” in the hearts of all who knew him. Some of his family connections reside in Poverty Bay.