OBITUARY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3089, 11 January 1909, Page 4

OBITUARY.

MR JOHN WILLIAM LAING.

Another of the fast-diminishing band of early settlers passed to his rest on 2nd instant. John W. Laing a son of the Manse, was born in Crieff, Perthshire, in 1326. Hin father was minister of the established | church there, and his grandfather, ! Mr Wm. Laing. of Edinburgh, was [ the wsll-knuwn collector of rich and i rare literary productions, and his j opportunity came during th° Napoleonic wars, when private and public collections of priceless vaiu D were scattered over the continent. During ! one of the brief intervals of peace, Mr Laing crossed to the continent and secured very many books of great value, and thus laid ,the foundation of a collection which bceame unique in Scotland. Mr Wm. Laing was one of the founders and first directors of the Commercial Bank of Scotland. On the mother's side Mr John Wm. Laing was descended from one of the most famous of Scottish families, his mother being a daughter of Professor Gregory, of Edinburgh. Professor Gregroy's father also filled trie chair of medicine in Edinburgh University, while others of the same family filled the chairs of astronomy and mathematics. His uncle, Dr Laing, was the well-known librarian of tha Advocates Library, Edinburgh, and an antiquariar and scholar, deeply versed in Scuttish history and literature. Mr John Wm. Laing was educated at Menzie Boarding School and at the High School and University, Edinburgh. In 1542 he, accompanied by his friend, Mr Wm. Landsborough, sailed in the barque, Duke of Richmond for Sydney. The young men went to the sheep station of Landsborough's brother in the New England district. Both young men had been sent out to learn colonial farming. Taking a share in the station, Mr Laing remained there six or seven years. His friend took to exploring the back country, especially Queensland, and subsequently became famous as an explorer. Mr Landsborough returned to the Homeland, where he was honoured by royalty but Mr Laing came to New Zealand —a move he always regretted. He arrived in Wellington by a trading schooner, and some time afterwards came on to Dunedin to visit his three brothers, who had taken up land in ana around Dunedin. Liking the climate of Otago he went back to New South Wales to wind up his affairs. Having considerable capital. on his return hj? bought up city and suburban property, and made his home at Brockville, Halfway Bush, where he lived a very retired life until within the last ten years, when he removed to Ramsay Lodge, Stafford Street, Dunedin. He leaves a widow, and a family of five daughters and four sons, two of the sons being Messrs W. M. Laing, uf "Glencrieff." Bideford, and David Laing, of New Plymouth.—"Otago Witness."