Ebenezer Taylor, 1845-17/6/1892. "a reticent and retiring disposition"

OBITUARY. 

Another death is this morning recorded which removes from the roll of the community one who, though comparatively a young man, was an old resident of Southland. We refer to Mr Ebenezer Taylor, of Woodlands, whose demise took place at the residence of his cousin, Mr Alex. Ross, Gala street, yesterday evening. The deceased came into town on Thursday, the 9th inst., to lay up his boat (which he kept on the estuary, being an enthusiast in aquatics), in winter quarters and to attend to some business. He remained over the Sunday, and on Monday complained of being unwell. On Tuesday he was worse and medical aid was called in, but in spite of all that skill and attention could do he gradually sank and expired as above stated. Mr Taylor had experienced many of the vicissitudes of colonial life. He arrived at the Bluff in the ship Paria in 1864, and was for two years or more engaged on the Land Company's estates. The gold fever, however, reached him in due time and he went off with some mates to the Nevis and Dome, where he pursued a digger's avocations for about three years. From thence he made his way to the West Coast, and after spending some time on that wide field returned via Christchurch and the East Coast to Clydevale station on the Clutha, where he remained for some time. Subsequently, in company with several parties, he built the river steamer Balclutha, which traded on the river Molyneaux. She was, however, soon sold and the sternwheel steamer Tuapeka put on in her place. After a year or so of this venture he retired from the concern and came down again to Southland, where for a time he was associated with Mr Fraser in the sawmilling business, then in its infancy here. Eighteen years ago he started storekeeping at Woodlands and carried on that business up to the time of his death. For the most of the period mentioned he filled with credit the position of clerk of the Lindhurst Road Board, the legal formalities for the merging of which body in the Southland County Council, he was carrying through just before his death. From his position as a country merchant, with a large business connection, and his official position on the Road Board, Mr Taylor was very widely known in Southland, especially in the eastern district. He was never married, and was, moreover, of a reticent and retiring disposition, not given to court a numerous acquaintanceship, but he nevertheless enjoyed the esteem and confidence of a large number of friends of many years' standing. The funeral takes place at Woodlands to-morrow.  -Southland Times, 18/6/1892.

Woodlands Cemetery, Southland.