Between the hours of one and two this morning Mr Thomas Birch (of the Government Life Insurance Company), who resides opposite the Water of Leith and near to the bridge, was awoke by hearing the cries of his wife, whose bedroom is at the rear of the premises. On proceeding to the room he was startled by her appearance enveloped in flame. He at once awoke a young girl, the domestic, who was the only other occupant of the house, and with her help set to work to extinguish the flames, which had obtained a hold of the bedding and threatened to spread over the room. His first act was to get some blankets, to throw them over Mrs Birch, and that done to remove her to a place of safety. The application of several buckets of water served to put out the fire, but it was a very anxious time for Mr Birch, who was practically unassisted, as the girl was too frightened to render him much help. In extinguishing the flames Mr Birch was a good deal scorched about the hands, and we regret to say that his wife is terribly burned. The flesh on her right side, from the upper part of the face downwards, has been almost burned away, and the shock she sustained must have been terrible, as, we believe, she is over fifty years of age. Dr Gilbert, who was at once sent for, was quickly in attendance and he and Dr Reimer, who have been in attendance for the greater part of the day, inform us that they despair of her life, fearing that coma will supervene. It is surmised that Mrs Birch had been reading in bed, had fallen asleep, and that the candle the was using fell and set fire to her bed, which was considerably burned. The damage to the house itself was not great. The wonder is that Mr Birch, unaided as he was, was able to extinguish the flames with which he found his wife surrounded and to prevent the fire spreading. Nothing but his coolness and promptness of action, under most trying circumstances, saved the building from entire destruction. The premesis were insured, but in what office we could not learn. -Evening Star, 7/1/1880.
Death.
Birch. — On the 9th inst., at her residence, Duke street, Dunedin, Mary Irvine, wife of Mr Thomas Birch, aged 50 years. -Evening Star, 9/1/1880.
FUNERAL NOTICE.
THE Friends of Mr Thomas Birch are respectfully invited to follow the remains of his wife, from his residence, Duke street, to the place of interment in the Northern Cemetery, To-morrow (Saturday), at 4 p.m. DAVID TAYLOR, Undertaker, Hope street. -Evening Star, 9/1/1880.
AUCTION NOTICES.
THURSDAY, 12th FEBRUARY, At 2 o'clock.
HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE.
PLATED AND SILVERWARE. LIBRARY OF BOOKS.
Superior Dinner and Tea Servicesa, etc.
At the Residence of Mr Thomas Birch, King street, next Water-of Leith.
D M. SPEDDING is instructed by Mr Birch to sell by auction, at his residence, on Thursday next, at 2 o'clock,
The whole of his household furniture and effects, consisting of —
Handsome mahogany bookcase, mahogany chairs and easy chairs, pier glasses, Brussels carpets, etc , etc.
Sittingroom and bedroon furniture
Superior cutlery, plated and silverware
Set of superior steel anaglyph engravings
Library of valuable books.
Also, Bedding, napery, kitchen utensils, etc., etc.
Without reserve.
The property, consisting of one quarter-acre freehold land, with comfortable cottage and tastefully laid out orchard and garden, is
FOR PRIVATE SALE OR LEASE. Apply to THE AUCTIONEERS. -Evening Star, 9/2/1880.
Sudden Death on the Penguin.
DURING the passage of the s.s. Penguin from Gisborne to this port, Mr Thomas Birch, one of the saloon passengers, died somewhat suddenly. He had left Dunedin for the benefit of his health, and he had been ailing from the time the steamer left Port Chalmers. Very stormy weather was experienced after leaving Gisborne, and the deceased gentleman gradually became worse, and finally succumbed yesterday. Mr Birch was a member of the Dunedin City Council, and he formerly occupied the position of Mayor of that city. It will be remembered that Mrs Birch, wife of the deceased, was severely burnt during a fire, by which their house was destroyed, in 1878. She died in consequence of the injuries received. It is believed that her melancholy death prayed on the miud of her husband, and led to the illness which so suddenly terminated his life.
Mr Thomas Birch was a native of Scotland, and first came to Otago with the pioneer settlers, before the discovery of gold. He was elected first Mayor of Dunedin about 12 years ago. He represented Dunedin in the House of Representatives for one or two sessions, when Auckland was the capital. He was twice sent to Scotland as a special emigration agent; once by the Provincial Government of Otago, and once by the General Government, under Sir Julius Vogel. He was president of the Caledonian Society in Otago for many years. Friends are informed that the funeral will not take place to-morrow, as advertised, owing to other arrangements. -Auckland Star, 13/3/1880.
Inquest. — An inquest has been held at Auckland on the body of the late Mr. Thomas Birch, who died on board the Penguin. The evidence showed that deceased had been ailing on the passage up, and after leaving Gisborne got worse. He took a fit and died in five minutes. He had obtained some chlorodyne at Napier, which was the only medicine he took on the voyage. The medical evidence showed that death resulted from aneurism of the heart, and the wonder is that he had lived so long. A verdict of "Death from natural causes” was returned. 26s. 6d. were found on the body, and while the inquest was going on the purser discovered L96 in bank notes in his underclothing. -Ashburton Herald, 15/3/1880.
Meetings
THE CALEDONIAN SOCIETY OF OTAGO.
DIRECTORS and MEMBERS of tha above Society are requested to meet at Wain's Hotel THIS (Wednesday) EVENING, at 8 o'clock, to make arrangements for the Burial of the late Thomas Birch, Esq.
W. C. KIRKCALDY, President. -Otago Daily Times, 17/3/1880.
The remains of Mr Thomas Birch, J.P , are expected to arrive in Dunedin to-morrow (Sunday), and arrangements for a public funeral have been made by the Caledonian Society of Otago. -Tuapeka Times, 20/3/1880.
The remains of the late Thomas Birch were interred in the Northern Cemetery yesterday afternoon. The funeral possession was formed at the City Council Chambers at 3 o'clock. Four hundred or five hundred gentlemen walked in procession, and there were 15 or 20 carriages. Amongst those who attended were members of the City Council, of the Caledonian Society, &c. The Headquarters Bands met the procession at tha Octagon and played "Soots wha hae," leading it to the cemetery gate, where they played the "Dead March in Saul." -Otago Daily Times, 22/3/1880.
THE LATE MR THOMAS BIRCH.
Again another breach has been made in the ranks of the early settlers of Otago. The remorseless scythe is cutting down, irrespective of age or position. Mr Birch was born in the town of Fortrose, Ross-shire, Scotland, in 1825. In infancy he lost both his parents, and consequently had not the advantages of their up-bringing. Thus early cast upon his own resources, he learned the lesson of self-reliance, and earnestly he wrought his way upward in the world. Removing to Aberdeen he served his apprenticeship as a cabinetmaker, afterwards wrought in Edinburgh, then removed to London, whence he sailed in 1852 for Otago in the ship Slains Castle, Captain Andrew, well known in the Colony in connection with the Union Steam Ship Company.
Arrriving in Dunedin he started his trade and was very successful, being a first-rate tradesman. One circumstance is worth recording here — viz., that he erected the first house in the town of Invercargill. Having put the frame together in Dunedin, it was shipped on board the Star, and, in company with the James Daly, both vessels sailed for New River. As fellow passengers he had Mr Macandrew, Mr Ligar, surveyor-general of Victoria, the late Mr J. P. Taylor, and other pilgrim fathers of Invercargill. The voyage was an eventful one. Through stress of weather both vessels had first to take refuge in Tautuku, and subsequently in the harbour of Waikawa. At the latter port Mr Birch and several of the passengers landed, living for three days in a whare, it raining "cats and dogs" the whole time of their stay. Thence they started the bush, without provisions, for the Toi-Tois, subsisting on Maori hens, these being numerous. The journey almost finished the travellers. At the Toi Tois several of the party caved in, and Messrs Macandrew and Birch set out alone for the Bluff, which they reached as the Star was entering the New River. Mr Birch was a principal actor in forming the town of Invercargill, and incurred considerable personal risk and fatigue in the early days. In May, 1858, Mr and Mrs Birch took passage for London in the ship Strathallan, the first vessel sailing from the Port with a cargo direct for the Old Country. While in London he did the Province good service in furnishing Willis, Gann, and Co., shipping agents, with statistics and other valuable information published by them for behoof of intending emigrants. On his return to the Province he vigorously devoted himself to business, and in 1863, to use his own language, "put his foot on the first rung of the political ladder," by being elected a member of the Provincial Council for Dunedin. In 1865 he was elected a member of the first City Council, and, owing in great measure to his pertinacity, a Mayor's Court was established for the city. To fill an extraordinary vacancy in the Mayorship, he was unanimously elected to that high office in 1868. Again elected unanimously at the ordinary vacancy during the same year, he was by a considerable majority elected for a third time in 1869. During the period he held the position of Mayor, he commanded the respect of the Council and the esteem of the citizens by the firmness and impartiality with which he discharged the arduous duties of his office. One high distinction was conferred on him during this period — the reception and entertainment as chief citizen of H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh. Many a good joke was passed and agreeable hour spent between the plebeian Mayor and the Royal Duke. In 1869 the electors of the city chose him as their representative in the General Assembly, which office he held till the end of the Parliament. As an immigration agent for the Province Mr Birch was sent to Scotland in 1873, and his selections proved creditable to himself and satisfactory to the Province.
In the various societies of a public nature connected with the city Mr Birch took an active part, especially in the Caledonian, in which he held the office of president for three consecutive years; and as a mark of the high esteem in which he was held for services rendered, his name was placed on the list of honorary life members, a distinction conferred on very few. On the formation of the No. 2 Scottish Company of Volunteers, in 1863, Mr Birch was elected as treasurer to the corps.
Socially, Mr Birch was a firm friend, genial in his disposition, and warm-hearted in his actions. His private charities were numerous and liberal. For some time past, and more rapidly since the sad death of his wife, his health had been declining; and in seeking its restoration by a change of climate and scenes, he was suddenly called from our midst, having died on board the steamer Penguin, on a voyage to Auckland. His remains are to be brought back to Dunedin for interment, which ceremony it is proposed shall take place on Sunday next. The Caledonian Society and other bodies resolved to mark their respect for his memory by according him a public funeral. -Otago Daily Times, 25/3/1880.
Northern Cemetery, Dunedin.
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