Adam Johnston, CE, 1839-23/1/1874.

COMMERCIAL

Clutha Railway.— The piercing of the Caversham tunnel was effected on the 26th, the workmen on both sides meeting at three o'clock. As showing the exactitude of the driving, we may mention that the error in line and levels did not exceed one inch. This result, which is almost unprecedented, is to be attributed to the care and skill of Mr Adam Johnston, the assistant Government engineer, who has had charge of the work.  -Tuapeka Times, 3/10/1872

Birth. On the 9th September, at Cargill street, Mrs Adam Johnston, of a son.   -Otago Daily Times, 17/9/1873.

DEATH.

Johnston;— On the 23rd, January, at Milton, Adam Johnston, District Engineer, late of Dunedin. The funeral will leave his residence, Milton, for Fairfax Cemetery, on Sunday afternoon, at three o’clock.  -Evening Star, 23/1/1874.

THE ACCIDENT TO MR JOHNSTON.

(From the ‘ Bruce Herald.') Of the numerous accidents which have occurred in this district within the past few days, the most painful and distressing is that which befel Mr Adam Johnston, Resident Engineer, in the service of the General Government, on Wednesday evening. The whole circumstances in connection with the accident are not yet fully known, and it is possible they never may be so. The main facts, however, are the following:— Mr Johnston, having recently been promoted to the rank of Resident Engineer, secured the English parsonage here as a residence, and to which he had only removed his family during the day. He apparently had been on the look out for a new horse, aud one had that day been sent him on trial from Waihola, and left in charge of his father-in-law, Mr Robert Forsyth, Arnha’, only a short distance off. Mr Johnstone went for the horse in the evening, and left, leading it by the bridle, about eight o’clock. In the other hand he carried a can of milk, which had been given him to take home. The horse was without a saddle, and as Mr Johnston left the remark was made that he would have to walk all the way, to which he replied that he would at least ride through the ford (Salmond’s Creek), a short distance off, on his way home. In a little afterwards Mr Johnston was found lying at the roadside by a boy, who communicated the tidings, and Mr Forsyth and others were speedily on the spot. They found Mr Johnston quite insensible, much bruised, and apparently in a dying state. A horse was got with all haste, Dr Fergusson was sent for, and was shortly in attendance. A door was procured, and on it Mr Johnston was carried to the parsonage. Upon examination, the doctor found a pretty severe grazed wound upon the forehead or left temple, the left shoulder bruised, and other bruises upon the left side. Concussion of the brain had also taken place, and the whole of the left side was completely paralysed.  [We regret to learn that Mr Johnston died this morning.— ed, E. S.]  -Evening Star, 23/1/1874.

The funeral of the late Mr Adam Johnston took place on Sunday Afternoon, at 3 o'clock when, (says the ‘Bruce Herald’) the largest assemblage at any funeral that has taken place in the locality has met togetther to pay the last tokens of respect to his remains by following them to Fairfax Cemetery. The large attendance included people not only from the Tokomairiro district, but also from Dunedin, Taieri, Waihola, Lawrence, and Balclutha, a circuit of forty miles round. About six hundred persons followed the remains to the grave. About forty gentlemen came from Dunedin by coach and private conveyances, numbering amongst them the leading professional men and members of the civil services both General Government and Provincial, with whom Mr Johnston had long been a fellow-worker. No stronger proof of the high estimate in which he was held could have been given than this fact, that every member of the Government staff that could possibly get away was present. Amongst those from Dunedin were several of the office bearers and members of Knox Church, of which congregation Mr Johnston had been a member, had taken an active interest in the young as a Sabbath-school teacher, and as a member of the Young Men’s Association in connection with that church.  -Evening Star, 27/1/1874.

Dunedin

(From an occasional correspondent)

The news of Mr Adam Johnston's accident and subsequent death caused deep heart-felt sorrow to his many friends in Dunedin. Not only on his immediate personal friends, but on all who had ever heard of his worth, did the news fall heavily, for his loss is a loss to the Province of a highly skilled engineer, a generous hearted gentleman, and a true Christian. I do not record this opinion of his character on hearsay; I knew him personally and honored him for the many amiable qualities of mind and heart which those who came in contact with him could not avoid detecting. It is scarce possible for me to realise the fact that he has gone; so short a time has elapsed since I last spoke with him, and stood beside his tall form. Strange it is to see the good, the noble, and the truehearted called away, while the useless are left to cumber the ground. We know that a wisdom higher than ours directs these matters; but, alas! this knowledge cannot make us forget the friend who has been so suddenly snatched from amongst us. We may bow our heads in submission while our hearts are heavy with sorrow; we may try to bear the loss of an honored friend patiently, but it will be a long time before we can bring ourselves to think painlessly of all his virtues; of all his kindly words and actions. Time, with healing on its wings, may by and bye banish the acute pain which the sudden death of the late Mr Johnston inflicted upon the hearts of his relatives and friends, and then they may be enabled to speak of him calmly; to dwell tenderly, and without pain, over the recollection of his former doings and sayings, feeling comforted the while by remembering that "dust was never committed to dust with a more certain hope of a glorious resurrection" than was that of Adam Johnston. To an aching heart, the following lines of the poet Nicolas are peculiarly soothing:— 

High thoughts!

They visit us 

in moments when the soul is dim and darkened; 

They come to bless,

After the vanities to which we harkened; 

When weariness hath come upon the spirit — 

(These hours of darkness which we all inherit) 

Bursts there not through a glint of warm sunshine

A winged thought which bids us not repine? 

In joy and gladness, 

In mirth and sadness, 

Come signs and tokens; 

Lifes angel brings 

Upon its wings 

Those bright commings 

The soul doth keep — 

Those thoughts of Heaven, So pure and deep! 

[We regret that we are obliged to hold over the remainder of our Correspondent's letter till next issue.]  -Bruce Herald, 27/1/1874.

A very handsome obelisk monument has just been erected in the Southern Cemetery, Dunedin, to the memory of the late Mr. Adam Johnston, civil engineer, who lost his life by an accident at Tokomairiro on the 21st January last. The memorial has been erected as a mark of esteem by those associated with him on the public works of Otago.  -Clutha Leader, 10/9/1874.

Southern Cemetery, Dunedin.

As is indicated above, Adam Johnston is not buried in Dunedin's Southern Cemetery.  In the plot occupied by the "obelisk," however, are a stillborn baby buried in 1870 and his widow, Margaret.

Deaths

JOHNSTON. — On February 19, 1938, at 5 Arthur street, Margaret, widow of Adam Johnston, C.E.: in her ninety-fifth year.— Hugh Gourley Ltd., funeral directors.  -Evening Star, 19/2/1938.