FATHER OF AUCKLAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3557, 24 June 1912, Page 3

FATHER OF AUCKLAND.

PASSING OF SIB LOGAN GAMPBELI.

A PEACEFUL END

CITY PLUNGED IN DEEP SORROW.

MOURNING FOR HER GRAND OLD MAN.

[PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, June 23. “It was a beautiful day when we set out—in fact it was always .beautiful weather when we started on a journey in those far-off days, becauso we always waited for a fine day. Time was of little .account." Thus wrote Sir John Logan Campbell about the setting out of a- little party from Wainui (Coromandel) to visit for the first time the Waitemata of which they had heard such glorious ‘accounts. And now the Father of Auckland lias set out on his last long journey, alone in the chill of the year v/itlihis beloved Waitemata lying grey beneath the winter sun and Maungakiekie standing out-against a sombre western sky. Everything is grey, but peaceful as though in sympathy with the sorrow of the people who mourn the passing of Auckland’s most reverend citizen. But his memory will be a sunny one. He will live always in affectionate remembrance of Aucklanders and the tens of thousands of people to whom his name has been a household word will bp thankful that his end was like.; that prayed for by Tennyson:— “And iinay there be no moaning of the bar. When I put out to sea. But such a tide as moving seems asleep, Too full for sound and foam, When that which drew from out the boundless deep Turns again home.” The grand old man, full of years and honor, passed peacefully away in bis sleep yesterday morning just before the dawn, when the waters of the Waitemata upon which he has looked out so often from his homo on the cliff were just at the last of the ebb. The tide and his dauntless spirit went out together, but not until the Waitemata forgets to return twice every day to scenes he loved so well will his name pass into obliv-

Sir John, having reached such a great age—he would have been 95 had he lived until November—people expected the. worst when they heard a few days ago that he had been compelled to take to his bed, so that the news of his death was not quite unexpected. Yesterday morning the flags at the Town Hall, the Albert Park, and throughout the/ city were flown at half-mast and the death was the principal topic in Queen Street. The notices outside the newspaper offices had been eagerly scanned by large numbers of people throughout the morning. People spoke about deceased with the greatest respect and affection, and the demise of a private citizen lias never before caused such widespread interest. Sir John has been connected with the’ history of the place so long that it was hard to realise that the link had at last been broken. At the request of many loading citizens who recognised that the only fltting resting-place for the remains of Auckland’s benefactor was Maungakiekio—the. crowning glory of his noble gift to the people of New Zealand—arrangements have been made for his interment there, the necessary permission having been obtained from the Government and the local authorities. Arrangements have been made for the funeral to leave “Kilbryde,” Sir John’s late residence, on Tuesday afternoon at 2 o’clock. The acting-Mavor,„Mr John Court, intends to invite the citizens of Auckland to close their business premises for the afternoon as a mark of respect and in order to enable those who so desire to attend the funeral. Hon. A. M. Myers, Minister for Railways and Defence, left Wellington this morning in- order to be prosent at the interment.

SAW AUCKLAND BOOM.

A UNIQUE LIFE HISTORY. ,

HOW SIR JOHN GAME TO THESE

SHORES

By Telegraph—Special Correspondent, AUCKLAND, June 23. The late Sir John Logan Campbell’s connection with Auckland is unique, and perhaps few of us realise the remarkable position he occupied. Over 70 years ago a young Scotch doctor who had left the'Old'Country to try his fortune in the new land, lie climbed to the top of Mount Hobson with a companion—a man bearing tlie not uncommon name of Brown. While they were: admiring the matchless view they saw a schooner come into the harbor and drop anchor off Oraki. They afterwards learned that on board were the officials from the capital at Kowrareka sent down to pucliase from' the Natives a strip of; land right across the Isthmus for the purpose of building the new Capital, it having been decided to remove the new centre of affairs from tlie Bay of Islands. In' fact, as Sir John tells very amusingly in his charming book “Poenamo,” he handled some of the very sovereigns that formed part of the payment for the land. It sems almost incredible that a man .should have witnessed such an incident and live to see Auckland attain its present size and importance. Sir John came of an ancient and honorable Scottish line. He was educated in Edinburgh and took the degree of M.D. at its University, then the first medical school of the Kingdom.

Having been bitten with the.mania which prevailed in the Old Country in 1838-39 for emigrating to Australia, where everyone was to make a fortune in a few years by wool-grow-ing, lie threw up a commission .in the East India Company’ service and sailed from Greenock in 1839, bound for Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney with emigrants and cargo. He was

the medical officer in chargo of the ship.

In due course the Palmyra arrived at Sydney. After a visit to the Bathurst plains, where he had , an opportunity of studying the contract element of the colony, he gave up the idea of sheep and cattle-raising* in Australia and determined to try his fortunes in the new colony of New Zealand. Shortly after his arrival at Auckland, the doctor threw aside his profession and started the firm of Brown and Campbell. In ISIS, after a nine years’ absence from the Old Country) he left the colony, travelling continuously for 15 months before reaching Home. He returned to Auckland at the end of ISSO. .

In 1855 Sir John contested successfully the superintend ency of Auckland with Mr Whitaker, and at the same time was returned at the head of the poll as a, member of the Houso of Representatives for Auckland. He was a Minister 1 without portfolio in the Stratford-Riehmond Sewell-Whitaker Cabinet.

On the introduction of responsible Government he resigned tlie superintendeney and his seat in the Cabinet towards the end of 1856, and again went to the Mother Country. In 1859 he once more entered the House as member for Parnell (elected unopposed). It was on this occasion that he took an active part with Mr Thos. Russell and Mr Jas. Williamson in starting) the Bank of New Zealand. In 1861 he again returned.to Europe with the intention of taking a long holiday, which was prolonged to nine years, spent chiefly on- the Continent, anu notably in Italy. Jn 1871 he returned to Auckland, and has resided here ever since. Sir John Campbell was Mayor of Auckland at the time of the visit paid by the Duke and Duchess of York, and had many other important positions on various public bodies. • The doctor claimed his bride at the hands of Judge Wilson, of Maradahad (later a prominent personage in Christchurch and known to New Zealanders as Sir Cracroft Wilson, the marriage taking place at Meerut. Lady Campbell Infs been one of the refugees who escaped to the hills at Nainee Tal, where all wen- shut up for many months until ■'the mutiny was partially quelled. The will left by Sir John Campbell will not he opened until after the funeral on Tuesday afternoon, hut it is understood that various public institutions .will benefit hv the generositv of the grand old man who has already done so much for his loved citv, and. whose princely gift of Ono Tree Hill Domain was but one of the many indications of the great public spirit which marked his life’s historv.

MINISTERIAL SYMPATHY. MESSAGE FROM HON. G. W. RUSSELL. [PEP. PRESS ASSOCIATION.] CHRISTCHURCH, June 23. The Minister for Internal Affairs has forwarded‘ the following telegram to the Mayor of Auckland regarding the death 'of Sir John Logan Campbell:— “[’lease accept on behalf of the citizens of Auckland my sincere sympathy over the death of Auckland’s great patriot and benefactor, Sir John Logan, Campbell- I trust it may assuage the general regret to know that the Government has, in accordance with the late Sir John Logan Campbell’s wish, and at the request of Sir Maurice O’Rorke, chairman of the One Tree Hill Domain Board, decided that his mortal remains shall he interred at the One Tree Hill Domain, and that psocial legislation will he introduced next session to validate this decision. G W Russell. Minister for internal Affairs.”