Death of Mr. Gellibrand.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 226, 29 October 1887, Page 4

Death of Mr. Gellibrand.

Mr Joseph Tioe Gellibrand, whoso death at Omokoroa, ,Tauranga, is announced in another column, was a notable member of an honoured family, a,nd the name is one that will dwell in Australian hJßtory. The deceased gentleman was thethirdsonof Joseph Tice Gellibrand, ofDerwentPark,Newtown, Tasmania, who was appointed AttorneyGeneral of that colony by Lord Liverpool in 1823, and, who subsequently lost his life in exploring Port Phillip in 1837. His son, named after him, was born at Hobart in 1826, and spent his early years in that town, where he received his early education, obtaining a scholarship at Queen's school in 1842. Two years later he matriculated at St. John's College, Oxford. In 1845 he paid a visit, to Russia, staying with his undo William Gellibrand, who was living at St. Petersburg. During 1847-48 ho made a voyago out to Tasmania and back to England, taking his B.A. degree at Oxford in October ; the following year ho was ordained deacon by the Bishop of Bath and Wells, and in December of that year married Selma Hannah Evans, second daughter of Samuel Evans, Esq., of Cambridge. In 1850 he was ordained priest, and two years later took his M.A. degree at Oxford, and then returned to Tasmania, where he held various appointments in tho Church until 1871, when he finally retired from tho ministry, having declined the Canonry offered to him by Bishop Bromley. In 1875 he loft Tasmania for a tour round New Zealand, finally settling at Omokoroa, Tauranga, in the following year. In 1878 he lobt his wife by the capsizing of a boat off Oponui Point, and this melancholy loss of the companion of thirty years of active life cast a shadow over his remaining years. In the year 1881 he again visited Tasmania, where ho unsuccessfully contested North Hobart seat in the Assembly ; and on a subsequent visit to that colony last year lie for some months edited the "Tasmanian News," of which Mr G. B. Lilly, of Auckland, was formerly editor. After his return to his home at Omokoroa, Mr Gellibrand had an attack o£ gastric fever, and inflammation of the lungs supervening, his enfeebled constitution was unable to throw oft" the disease. In his illness, which lasted several weeks, deceased had the benefit of all that careful nursing and skilled medical advice could do for him. A married sister, who resides in Auckland, went down to wait upon him, and Dr. Moir, of Tauranga, was most assiduous in his visits — sometimes riding the eighteen miles to Omokoroa in the night time, after a hard day's work, and riding back next morning in time to attend patients at Tauranga. MrGellibrandwasagentleman of sterling and unselfish character, which might be exemplified by many incidents in his career. Inalittle memorandum book which ho kept he had written his own epitaph thus: — "In memory of Joseph Tice Gellibrand, born May Ist, 1526. To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die."