The Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, MAY 10, 1879.

Temuka Leader, Volume 2, Issue 144, 10 May 1879, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, MAY 10, 1879.

Another, landmark has been removed from our midbt. One of our old, much respected, and enterprising sett'ers has suddenly been snapped from us in, it may be said, the midst of his days. Mr William Kenneth McDonald, who came to the Orari from Melbourne some eighteen years since, died at the station on the night of 6th instant, at the early age of fifty-nine. Full of health and vigor he was cut down by that fatal disease typhoid fever in the short space of a few days. It is a common saying when a man dies all his evil deeds are forgotten. We do not think this applies to the late departed, as we have never heard of evil deeds, but notwithstanding his care not to let his right hand know what his left had accomplished bis kind, and liberal actions are well known. Few men were readier to put their bands into their pocket to aid in any good movement than the deceased, aud few of the squaiter-class have been so enterprising or did move to advance the interest of the working classes around him, while his hospitality was well known to all. Many are still living who can recollect the time when the Orari station was a noted landmark to the wayward traveller as he trudged along that wild and desolate-looking stretch of flax, tussock, and waste of waters rolling down the often devastating Orari river. No house for many miles around, excepting the Orari accommodation house, aud that other prominent landmark Captain McPherson's residence to the west. When that Waterloo veteran warrior, died at a ripe old age in his own quiet home, in this out of the way part of the world, after fighting the battles of his country and facing death in its often most hidious form came here to encounter the grim King of Terrors all alone. Little did the followers of the remains of that aged soldier think that Mr W. K. McDonald, bis son-in-law, was to be the next that was to be taken out of the ranks to suffer death. Such is life, and such are the unsrrutable laws of Providence. How true the saying, " We know not wl at a day may bring forth" MMcDonald will be missed, and the proof that he was respected by all was fully exemplified by the large number not only of vehicles and horsemen, but foot pedestrians as well, who attended his funeral. It may truly be said the whole of the citizens of that beautiful little town of Gcr.ddinc, along with many old friends from Tenmka, Timaru, and also Chriscchurch, composed that solemn procession as it wended its way through that now thickly populated c'i-.-trict from the Orari to Geraldine to that romantic spot under the brow of the liaukapulca hills and bush, there to deposit their dead comrade in his last resting place. Mr

Mc-Dona'd ivw a rminhor of tho l'r. sbyterian Church, to whose funds he wis a libera) conliibutor, as also, if should be recorded, to cither churches iia well. Coming to this district, in full vigour of mai.h'.od ( f "-vliic-- he was a mi bit; specimen, he at o'.tco set to. work with ft will in improving the lands in his possession, often at great loss ; yet ho thus showed the way to others in that industry which now gives Canterbury a name above every other in New Zealand as the grannary of the South Pacific In his enterprises Mr M-.-JDonahl was not always successful, in a pecuniary point of view. His liking for what he did being done well often caused expense that was never recouped, yet he had the satisfaction of seeing his work prosr.w, and others prosper under his hands. Severe domestic trials doubtless crushed his spirit and damped the ardour with which at first he entered upon public matters. Lately he almost abstained from taking any part in public matters ; when lie did so the. interests of the district where he had spent so ranch of his life had his first thoughts, and although we differed from him in some things, we could not but admit that he was candid and honest- in stating his objectian, never with rudeness or want of sympathy with those who differed from him. Nothing ever transpired in the very warmest debate to cause his opponents to feel sore so far as we know ; we can therefore join in the general regret at his sudden removal from amongst us at a time when we hoped for his aid and assistance in the efforts that will be made shorlly to secure the rights of South Canterbury. Taking leave of this subject we would make a few remarks upon a kindred subject. It has often been remarked of Otago, and particularly of Dunedin, the number of aged people to be found as compared with Canterbury, and the question we ask ourselves is how comes it about that so many are found in the former province who have reached the allotted period of three score years and ten, while so few are to be found of a venerable old age in the latter. Is it because the hardy northerners who hail from the cold hills of old Scotland are better seasoned to endure hardship, or is it that the climate of Otago holds out a prospect of prolonged existence more than Canterbury. In looking over the past fifteen years wo find few men have reached the three score before they were summoned away. Care and worry may have to do with t, as some of our best philanthropists, such as Fox, Pitt, and many others, were literally worried to death. The cares of life in tho colonies are very great, and to this may be attributed the shortness of life amongst us. Such full-grown manly forms as the late Mr McDonald dying at the age of 59 is not a singular case. At this age no man who has been properly nurtured and inherits a sound constitution should be considered ok 1 . Looking over the continent of Europe, and even the little British Isles, we find most men are only becoming useful at that age. What is it then that makes the Canterbury deathrate so low in point of age. It has been said by some that in the vegetable world the subjects come sooner to maturity, and sooner die ; so with man. This may apply to those bom in jthe colony, as doubtless the young, even in the human species, come sooner to maturity than in the European countries, but this does not apply to such as have been born and brought up in European countries. We cannot, therefore, believe that this has to do with, it, rather are we iuclined to think that the theory put forth by an anathomist that every animal lives five times as much as it takes to come to maturity. This is true of the horse, the cow, the sheep, etc., why should it not be true of man 1 If he takes twenty years to come to maturity why should he not live a hundred years 1 Some do, barring accidents, why should not others. It has been remarked of the Americans that they look sallow ; this is accounted for by the hurry they are always in in business, that they do not take more than ten minutes to their daily meals, and by not giving sufficient time for mastification, give the stomach too much work, thus deranging the whole system. One thing is certain the worry of business is great in these colonies, and the rush to be rich is far too great to allow of that calm and freedom' from excitement which so often ends in heart disease and other ailments. Nothing in the Canterbury climate in our opinion is to be found to lead to a shortening of life ; we have pure air passing over us filtered by our glorious snowy mountains, streams of the purest water flowing down in every direction, and why should disease'and death so readily visit us ? Let us ask ourselves and try to find out a cause. We think we see one or two, and shall return to this subject by-and-bye. Meantime wo invite correspondence on this subject.