OBITUARY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9136, 8 July 1908, Page 6

OBITUARY.

MR JOHN GRAHAM

The serious illness from which Mr John Graham had been suffering for some weeks past terminated fatally at 10 o'clock yesterday morning, the end being somewhat unexpected, as Mr Graham was thought to be on the way to recovery. The cause of death was primarily a combined attack of pneumonia and pleurisy, hemorrhage of the lungs setting in at the later stages of the illness, and ' hastening the end.

The death of Mr Graham remo/es a resident'of the town of nearly twenty-five years' standing, and a gentleman who has earned the respect of all classes of the community. He wad born in Crieff, Perthshire (Scotland) 71 years ago, where he served as an apprentice at the grocery business. It was about 25 yeans ago that he came to New Zea • land, settling at first in Christchurch. Ho only resided there for a short period, however, and came to the North Island, eventually settling in Masterton. He purchased the wellknown provision business of Messrs Rapp and Hare, and Messrs Minifie Bros., combining the two, and since that time he has conducted an extensive universal provision store, later carried on under the style of Messrs John Graham and Co. The late Mr Graham was a very active worker in religious circles in the town. His sympathy was very strong with the cause of Temperance, for which he worked assiduously. Evangelical work was also a class of religious labour to which the deceased gentleman devoted untiring energy, and he was a prominent member of the local mission conducted by the Plymouth Brethren. He performed many act 3 of benevol • cnce in an unostentious manner, and ever lent a sympathetic ear to cases of genuine necessity. In public life in She town the late Mr Graham was not unfamilar. He occupied a seat on the Masterton Trust Lands Trust for a short period, and at the time of his death he was on the active membership of the Chamber of Commerce. Mr Graham's death removes a gentleman of consummate business ability, an earnest Christian worker, and a devoted friend and father. , , . The following family are left to mourn their loss:—Mr J. R. Graham, of Palmerston North; Mr C. S. Graham, of Masterton; Mrs G Russell and Mrs R. Evernden, also of Masterton and Nurse Graham, of Wanganui. A number of grandchildren are also left. The funeral will leave the late Mr Graham's residence, Bannister street, at 2 o'clock, on Thursday afternoon.