DEATH OF DR JOHN GIBSON SMITH.
It is with feelings of deepest regret that we have to record the death o: one who for the past 40 years has been the most familiar figure in the Clutha — Dr John Gibson-Smith. For the past 18 months, Dr Smith has been in failing health, but his robust constitution always asserted itself, and with the exception of short intervals, was always able to be about, till a fortnight ago, when he was again laid aside. Strong hopes were entertained for at least a temporary recovery, but on the evening of Thursday, June 12th, his condition was such that his medical adviser Dr Fleming, had but small hopes of even a temporary recovery. The following day, however, the doctor, with that wonderful vitality which has characterised him all through his illness, got up out of bed, and went to see a patient at Kaihiku, in fulfilment of an appointment he had made. That was his last trip. When he came home he went back to bed, and from that out he never left his room. The following Sunday his condition was most critical, but on Monday he rallied, and on Tuesday, the return of his son, Ian, from South Africa, seemed to put new life into him. A visit from an old friend in Dunedin on Wednesday had the same effect .Though his heart was very weak, and the pulse little more than perceptible yet he laughed and chatted with something of his old spirit. On Thursday a decided change for the better was noticeable, and there were hopes that the end might be delayed. On Friday, however, he relapsed into his former condition, and on Saturday and Sunday was often in a comatose state. Yesterday morning he was much the same, he had great difficulty in breathing, but was at times sensible enough, and suffered little or no pain. At 11 o'clock, his locum tenens, Dr Simmons, was about to administer some medicine, but while he was preparing to do so, Mrs Smith noticed a change come over her husband, and before she could speak, almost, the doctor had passed peacefully away.
The death of Dr John Gibson Smith removes from our midst one of the best known landmarks in the Clutha. For a period of just about 40 years he has essentially been one of the people. He was known far and wide indeed, there was not a more familiar figure, and let it be said, also a more popular man in the whole of the Clutha and South end of Bruce districts. Dr Smith was known and liked by everyone, and in time of sickness and sorrow, his pleasant style, kindly disposition, and breezy manner, lightened many a burden. His services were never sought in vain. Often with the worst of roads on a bitter night and after a trying day, the doctor would, tired and fatigued, respond to a call for his services, no matter what the distance and with no thought whatever of the prospects of monetary recompense. Many a kindly and self-denying act done by the doctor must go unrecorded. In the early days in the district, with neither roads nor bridges, the doctor's duties wen particularly trying, and only an iron constitution such as his could have stood half of what he came through. His death will cause sorrow in many a heart, and bring up recollections of days now past and gone. His place in the Clutha can never be filled. He had a personality and character, all his own, which found for him a warm place in the hearts of everyone. A strong personality such as his is always bound to give rise to differences of opinion, but no one wished the doctor ill. He has now gone the way of all flesh, and his loss has caused a gloom over township and district. The late Dr John Gibson-Smith L.R.C.S., (Edin), was the eldest of three sons of the late Hugh Smith, a Lanarkshire farmer. He was born at Camwath, on the 17th June, 1837 — the year of the Queen's coronation. He died on the 23rd of June, 1902 the year of the King's coronation, aged 65 years and one week. Educated at private schools, he subsequently went to Dalkeith Academy and latterly to Edinburgh University, where he qualified for the medical profession. He then joined the Army Staff Medical Corps, and was stationed successively at Aldershot, Currah, Dublin, and Kilkenny. In 1862 he sailed from Glasgow for New Zealand in the ship Pladda in company with his cousin, Dr Douglas, of Queenstown. When he arrived at Port Chalmers the gold fever was at its height, and the two cousins set out for the goldfields. In company with a third party they bought a pack-horse, but when they got to the Dunstan the horse got stolen, and the party had to carry their swag and provisions. They arrived at the Arrow, when they tested it and tried their fortunes, with no great success. A fire burnt out their tent and the party broke up. Dr Smith came to the Clutha Ferry in the spring of 1863, and he has resided here continuously ever since. He built his first house on the site of his present residence. In February 1868 he married Sarah Helen, daughter of Mr Joseph Williams, of Boughurst, near Basingstoke, Hampshire and has a family of five sons and four daughters. His wife and all the family survive him. Of the daughters two are married — one the wife of Mr Allan Bishop, manager of the National Bank, the other is the wife of Mr D. M. Findlay, barrister and solicitor, Dunedin. Miss Flo and Miss Alice are at present at home. Of the sons; the eldest, Hugh, is at present in London with the Coronation Contingent. Edmond is in the North Island, Sidney is in the Bank of New Zealand at Christchurch, Ian has just returned from South Africa while the youngest (Cecil) is a school. Three of the sons went to South Africa — Hugh with the First Contingent, Sidney with the Fourth and Ian with the Seventh. There are also 10 grand-children. We join with a large circle of friends in offering our deepest sympathy to the bereaved wife and family in their time of sorrow. The funeral takes place on Wednesday at 1 o'clock. Out of respect to the memory of the deceased, the whole of the business people have decided to close from 12 o'clock on that day. -Clutha Leader, 24/6/1902.
DR SMITH'S FUNERAL.
The funeral of the late Dr John Gibson Smith took place on Wednesday. The gathering that followed his remains to their last resting place in the Balclutha cemetery probably the largest that has been seen on a similar occasion in the district. The business people voluntarily closed their premises at noon as a mark of respect. The members of the Loyal Dalton Lodge, of which institution the deceased gentleman had been surgeon since its initiation in 1864, mustered about 100 strong. Canon Dodd was the officiating clergyman. Both at St. Mark's Church, where Miss Dodd presided at the organ, and at the grave, the service was of a very impressive nature, many being moved to tears. The following were the pall-bearers: — Messrs Jas. Hogg, J. W. Wilson, J. McNeil, G. W. Hutchins, John Turnbull, John Dunne, John Low and D. T. Fleming. The cortege represented all parts of the district, to Clinton and Catlins River on the one hand, and Hillend and Kaitangata on the other, while not a few were present from Dunedin and elsewhere, amongst them being Messrs R. Ferguson, W. Maitland, A Blakely, Wm. Wilson, Dr Ogson, Dr Sale (Dunedin), Dr Menzies and Mr Donald Reid (Milton), Dr Fitzgerald and Mr J. McCorley, mayor (Kaitangata), John Findlay (President Farmers' Union), John McNeil (chairman Clutha County Council). To mention more, it would be hard to know where to stop. Quite a large number of beautiful wreaths were sent in, following being some of the senders: Fernhill Club (Dunedin), Mr F. Tyson (Dunedin), Mrs Ulrich (Dunedin), Mrs Stephenson (Dunedin), Mrs A. J. Ferguson (Dunedin), Mr and Mrs H. S. Reunert (Dunedin), Mr and Mrs J. R. Mitchell, Mr and Mrs Jefcoate, Mr and Mrs McCorley, Mrs Wm. Stewart, Mr and Mrs Hutchins, Dr and Mrs Fleming, Mr T. Robertson, Mr and Mrs Halliday, Mr and Mrs J. W Wilson, Mr and Mrs T. McDonald, Mr and Mrs A. B. Henderson. Misses Barr, Mr B. O'Connor, and many others. -Clutha Leader, 27/6/1902.
THE DR. SMITH MEMORIAL.
THE UNVEILING CEREMONY.
The unveiling ceremony of the Dr Smith Memorial took place at the cemetery on Wednesday afternoon. There was a large attendance. Apologies were forwarded from Canon Dodd, and Messrs C. E. Bird and John Craig.
After the Rev. Mr Currie had led in prayer —
Mr Jno. McNeil, chairman of the Memorial committee, said they had met together to pay their last tribute of respect to one who had been a prominent figure in the Clutha district for over 40 years — the late Dr. John Gibson Smith. He was a man of pronounced personality and genial disposition. As a medical man he was sympathetic and humane; a man who never refused the call of duty whatever the distance or whatever the weather. He (the speaker) was not going to take up much of their time, but he would like to mention one or two little incidents which had come under his personal notice. He remembered one night about 20 years ago, meeting the doctor preparing to go on a journey to Catlins. The weather was wet and stormy, but the doctor did not hesitate. It was his duty to go and attend a poor fellow who had got crushed, he said; so off he went, although he was well aware he would get no remuneration. Mr McNeil remembered also a lady telling him that she had owed the doctor some five guineas for a considerable time, and when she had called to pay, she detailed the circumstances which had delayed the payment of the debt. "My good lady," said the doctor, "you have more need of that money than I have; pay it when you are better able." Mr McNeil then called on the Mayor to say a few words.
Mr Dunne endorsed the remarks of the previous speaker. There was no necessity for him to repeat any little incidents in the doctor's life bearing out his sympathy and good feeling, many of those present could tell of such incidents. As Mr McNeil had remarked, it would be the last time they would be gathered to pay their respect to the memory of their friend. They heard often of generals who had monuments raised in their memory, but not often of doctors. But the doctor had been a fighting man; he had spent a lifetime in the Clutha fighting disease and sickness; battling against all the ills humanity is heir to. He concluded an eloquent speech by expressing the fervent hope that their friend would rest peacefully in the grave where he lies till called on to enjoy his everlasting happiness.
Mrs J. McNeil then unveiled the tablet, and Mr McNeil declared the work completed. He called on Mr J. W. Wilson, who said that the proceedings were to him both mournful and pleasant. Mournful because they were paying their last tribute to the memory of their departed friend — to a man whose place would be hard to fill. No man was more associated with the Clutha district, and there was no one whose advice and sympathy was more sought. The day would come when those who knew the doctor would have passed away, and a new generation arise who knew him not, but there was now a monument to keep his memory green. In thinking of the doctor, he was reminded of the lines of Adam Lindsay Gordon: —
We tarry, and we are toiling still,
He is gone, and he fares the best. He fought against odds, he struggled up hill,
He has fairly earned his season of rest.
No tears are needed, our cheeks are dry,
We have little to waste on living woe.
Shall we sigh for one who has ceased to sigh?
Having gone, my friends where we all must go.
Mr McNeil then handed the title deed to Mr Hugh Gibson Smith, in keeping for his mother.
Mr John Paterson thanked the contractors for the excellent way in which they had fulfilled their contract — they had stinted nothing, and everything was on a more massive scale than contracted for.
Mr Bergamini, on behalf of the contractors, Messrs Bergamini and Reid, briefly replied.
The monument is an obelisk of red (Peterhead) granite, some 16 feet in height, the obelisk proper being in one piece, eight feet long; it is mounted on a base of bluestone, the whole weighing about 6 tons, and resting on a bed of concrete. The inscription reads "Erected to the memory of Dr John Gibson Smith, as a token of the esteem and affection in which he was held by the inhabitants of the Clutha and surrounding districts, and by his many friends during a residence of 40 years among them., Died, June 23, 1902. Aged 65 years."
Mr Angus McDonald, the secretary and treasurer, has handed us the following statement of accounts for publication: — Receipts — Subscriptions £204 17/6; interest £1 12/-. Expenditure — Erection of memorial" £105: advertising, etc, £2 8/9; preparing ground 15/-, postage, exchange, etc., £1 5/0. Balance to be handed to Mrs Smith: £97 0/3. -Clutha Leader, 3/7/1903.
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