DEATH OF MB R. A. BARKER.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2159, 5 February 1891, Page 2

DEATH OF MB R. A. BARKER.

It is with extreme regret that we chronicle the death of Mr Richard Alfred Barker, which took at his re sidence at Ohapi, Orari, at 2 am yesterday. His death was most unexpected, and when news of it reached town yesterday it was reeeized with incredulity until later accounts fully confirmed it. Mr Barker was in Temuba last Saturday, in apparently good health and spirits, but on reaching home ha took ill and never left his bed afterwards. On Monday he thought of getting up, but did not feel equal to it, and still be was not so bad that it was felt necessary to obtain medical aid. On Tuesday, however, he became so bad that Dr Fish was sent for, and he found that he was suffering from scarlet fever. Medical aid, however, proved of no avail, and be breathed his last at 2 o’clock on Wednesday morning. Mr R. A, Barker was the eldest son of the late Dr Barber—one of the “ Pilgrim Fathers ” of Canterbury—and was . born iu Christchurch 44 years ago. Early in life he came to South Canterbury, and lived ever since where he died. It is needless to say that extreme regret is felt by all classes at his death, for few men were more universally respected. For the last 15 years, or more, he has been before the public in public positions, and we can only repeat now what we have very frequently said before that a more thoroughly honest, straightforward, and independent man seldom occupied a seat on any of our local bodies. We have known him personally for about? 14 years, as a public man; we have had frequent opportunities of forming an opinion with regard to his character, and we have no hesitation in saying that it is our firm conviction that he never in his life khowingly countenanced anything which he did not believe to be right. And more than this, there was no enterprise, no movement for the advacement of the district in which be did not take a leading part, No matter what it was, whether prospecting for coal at Elakahu or establishing a local industry, Mr Barker was always in the foremost rank with bis money and his assistance in every way possible. He was always one of the first, if not the first, to initiate any movement for the good of the district, and he was the last to withdraw from it, It is, therefore, no exaggeration to say that the district has sustained a very serious loss by his death, and that it will be long before we shall look upon his likes again. Besides, he was a man of broader, and more generous sympathies than he was generally credited with, because of his unpretentious ways. His action on the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board proved that ha thoroughly sympathised with the poor. There he, with the Mayor of Timaru, has worked bard to make the hospitable more accessible to the people, and there be was the best champion the poor man had. He has been a member of the Education Board since its inception, a member of the County ’ Council, and was re-elected to a seat on the Harbor Board only last Saturday. He was for years a member of the Temuka Road Board, and fell out of it only through neglecting to get nominated two or three years ago. He forgot all about it until it was too late, and when he came be found that another had been nominated and duly elected. Locally at Orari he made himself very useful as chairman of the River Board, chairman ef the School Committee, and so on, He was thoroughly conscientious in all his dealings, and his death has caused widespread sorrow throughout the district. His funeral will leave his late residence to-day at 2,30 p.m. for the Temuka cemetery.