George King Browne, (29/3/1827-20/6/1904). "a fine tenor voice"

G. K. Browne. — Much to the surprise of everybody, our well-known old identity Mr George King Browne is leaving us, he having disposed of his place to Mr Alex. Murray, of Dunback. For the last 41 years Mr Browne has been in business in Waikouaiti as a stationer and newsagent, having come here from Melbourne in 1862. He used to travel in to Dunedin three times a week, taking messages, letters, etc., staying overnight in town and returning next day to Waikouaiti with the papers. For part of the way there was only a track, the road not being formed through in those early days, and many a tale of rough journeys and of passing drays bogged on the road does the old man tell. Mr Browne is one of the oldest members of the local Oddfellows Lodge, being one of the first to join in 1866. He intends visiting Exeter, England, his native place, where he has an elder sister living, and he talks of returning later on to the colony, but as he is over 75 years old, and not so sprightly as he used to be, it seems unlikely that he will leave the Old Country once he gets there. Mr Browne may rest assured he will be very much missed by many persons here, who will not soon forget how he used to sing away in his fine tenor voice, as merry as a cricket, in the years gone by.  -Otago Witness, 3/9/1903.

G. K. Browne. — Before the proceedings of the Borough Council commenced this evening the opportunity was seized to present one of our modest residents, in the person of Mr K. G. Browne, with a purse of sovereigns, prior to his departure in the s.s. Papanui for Plymouth, England. The Mayor, in making the presentation, wished Mr Browne a safe journey to the land of his birth, saying his familiar figure would be very much missed, and that he hoped his remaining years would be peaceful and happy.  -Otago Witness, 28/10/1903.

-Otago Witness, 11/11/1903.

Coming Back. — Information has been received here that Mr G. K. Browne, who left for England last October, is on his way back to New Zealand. Evidently the Old Country life was not so suitable for the old man as the free ways of the colony, where he has so many friends.  -Otago Witness, 11/4/1904.

Returned. — Mr G-. K. Browne returned on. Wednesday from the Old Country after being away some six months. He was glad to return to the colony, where he feels more at home. As a lot of refreshments was left over from the ladies' ball, they decided to finish them, off by giving a social to Mr Browne in the Borough Chambers on Thursday night. The Mayor presided, and a good number assembled at the social to meet the guest, have a yarn, and hear him sing again "The death of Nelson." As Mr Browne is so feeble, it was thought best for him to enter the Old Men's Home, and accordingly he left for there on Saturday to spend the rest of his days.  -Otago Witness, 25/5/1904.

News came to hand on Saturday that Mr G. K. Browne had died in the Dunedin Hospital on Monday, 20th inst., after undergoing an operation. If the news had been received earlier arrangements might have been made to bury him in Waikouaiti.  -Otago Witness, 29/6/1904.

WAIKOUAITI

October 23. — The Trafalgar Day celebration, which was fixed to be kept on Friday, 20th inst., was spoiled by the wet weather. The ceremony at the Public School was held on the Thursday afternoon before the scholars were dismissed, as recorded elsewhere. After the chairman's song one could not help wishing the late G. K. Browne had been there to sing his favourite song, "'Twas in Trafalgar's Bay" and he could sing it well, for he had a fine tenor voice.  -Otago Witness, 25/10/1905.

In Memory. — Mr D. Malloch, who had charge of the late G. K. Browne's estate, has had a neat marble headstone erected over the old man's grave in the churchyard. The cost was chiefly defrayed out of the Oddfellows' Burial Fund, and the action was a kindly one in perpetuating a well-known brother's memory.  -Otago Witness, 6/12/1905.

St Johns Anglican Cemetery, Waikouaiti.

Alexander Grahame, MD, MB, ChB, Bac, (1872-31/5/1914). "a sleeping draught"

A SUDDEN DEATH.

DR GRAHAME OF WAIKOUAITI. 

Dr Alexander Grahame, aged 42, a wellknown medical man practising at Waikouaiti in conjunction with Dr. Howden, of Palmerston, died suddenly yesterday morning, as the result of taking an overdose of a sleeping draught. He was a married man, with one child, and came from Africa to practise here. 

An inquest was held this morning before Mr A. S. Orbell. J.P., and a jury. 

Margaret Millicent Grahame (wife of deceased) said that at about 4 a.m. yesterday deceased rose from his bed, saying he was going to get another dose of bromide, which he was in the habit of taking. Previously — about 8 p.m. on Saturday he had taken a dose from a bottle (produced). When deceased went to bed he showed signs of having had some liquor, and after the first dose of bromide he became somewhat dazed, and was restless in his sleep. He was considerably dazed when he got up at 4 o'clock yesterday. Since Tuesday last he had been drinking occasionally, but had not touched liquor for the previous 13 weeks. After taking the bromide he appeared to be very still and witness found him in a state of collapse. 

Dr Howden (Palmerston) deposed that deceased was his assistant. Witness was called over at 4.30 by Mrs Grahame, who mentioned that her husband had taken an overdose of a sleeping draught. Witness arrived at 5.30, but life was extinct. It was highly probable that death was caused by an overdose of a sleeping draught. Deceased was occasionally in the habit of taking some drink, of which it took little to upset him. Witness did not think for a moment that he was a man who would commit suicide. If deceased took the amount now out of the bottle in two doses between 8 p.m. and 4 a.m. that would be sufficient to cause death.

Dr Harrison, who made a post mortem, found early stages of pneumonia. Both lungs showed evidence of old trouble. The liver was congested, and the heart slightly fatty. None of the above signs would cause sudden death, but taken in conjunction with an overdose of a sleeping draught would speedily cause death, the resistance of the body being much lower by the use of the drug. A person taking an overdose of the mixture produced at 8 p.m. would still be stupefied at 4 a.m., and would probably not be in a state to judge the quantity he was taking.

The jury found — "That the deceased died from an overdose of bromide, self-administered, all the evidence pointing to the fact that the action was accidental. The weakened state of the organs shown by the post mortem probably assisted to cause death." 

Constable Hodgson conducted the inquiry.  -Evening Star, 1/6/1914.

DEATHS

GRAHAME. — On May 31 1914, at Waikouaiti, Alexander Grahame, M.D., M.B., Ch.B., Bac. (Ireland), dearly beloved husband of Margaret Millicent Grahame, native of Belfast; in his forty-second year.  -Otago Daily Times, 1/6/1914.

St Johns Anglican Cemetery, Waikouaiti.

417098 Leading Aircraftman John Ronald Scott Orbell, (8/7/1918-18/8/1942). "a happy warrior"

AIRCRAFT MISSING

SOLO TRAINING FLIGHT

An aircraft of the Royal New Zealand Air Force in which Leading Aircraftman John Ronald Scott Orbell was undergoing solo acrobatic training is missing from a South Island flying training school. An intensive search is being maintained. 

Leading Aircraftman Orbell's next-of-kin is his father, Major R. G. S. Orbell, of Oamaru, at present in Dunedin.  -Evening Post, 19/8/1942.

John Orbell took off in a RNZAF Harvard trainer aircraft for solo aerobatic practice at 7.55am on August 18, 1942. His instructions included not venturing further than 12 miles from the base at Woodville, near Blenheim. He and his plane did not return. No trace of them were ever found.

St Johns Anglican Cemetery, Waikouaiti.

Walter Stott, (1866-30/1/1897). "went out to sea"

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) DUNEDIN, January 30. 

Mr Walter Stott, Town Clerk at Green Island, was accidentally drowned this afternoon while bathing at the mouth of the Taieri, whither he had gone as one of a picnic party.  -Press, 1/2/1897.

A man named Walter Stott was drowned at Taieri Mouth on Saturday afternoon. He had gone there with a picnic party composed of employees of the Burnside Ironworks, and while bathing he got into deep water and was lost. Constable King proceeded to the spot on Saturday night, and endeavored to recover the body, but all attempts were unsuccessful. It is thought that the unfortunate man's body was carried out to sea by the current of the river.   -Bruce Herald, 2/2/1897.

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

THE TAIERI MOUTH FATALITY.

Mr Knarston, a storekeeper at Taieri Mouth, while walking along the Taieri Mouth Beach yesterday about two miles from where the late Mr Walter Stott was drowned, picked up a hand and fore-arm. A gold ring, engraved "CS. to W. S., 1887," dropped off one of the fingers. The ring and hand were identified by Mr Kirkwood, a nephew of the deceased, who was at the Taieri Month at the time, and the hand was at once put in a box and buried. Constable King, the local police officer, is of opinion that the body went out to sea, and was devoured by fish, probably sharks, as the bone of the fore-arm was quite devoid of flesh.  -Otago Daily Times,  15/2/1897.

Walter and Christina were married in 1888, so the ring would seem to be an engagement present.

A very sad accident occurred at a picnic, held at Taieri Mouth a week ago, of the Burnside Ironworks employes, when Mr Walter Stott, town, clerk of preen Island, went into the bay for a bath and swim and was drowned. It was a great shock to his young wife who was present at the time, and cast quite a gloom over the happy gathering.  -Wairarapa Daily Times, 19/2/1897.

 MRS WALTER STOTT desires to convey her HEARTFELT THANKS to her many Friends for the Kindly Messages Sympathising with her in her recent Bereavement occasioned by the untimely death of her dear Husband.  -Otago Daily Times, 1/3/1897.

Mrs Walter Stott, who returned to New Zealand in the Gothic, after an absence of 12 months, was given "A Welcome Home" in the Volunteer Hall, Green Island, on Friday evening, 20th inst., by a large number of friends. Daring the evening Mrs Stott was presented with a handsome gold bangle by the Mayor of the borough (Mr James Miller) on behalf of her wellwishers. Mr Will responded on behalf of the recipient. Dancing was indulged in during the evening, which passed off in an enjoyable manner.  -Otago Witness, 2/6/1898.

IN MEMORIAM.

STOTT. — In loving memory of Walter Stott, who was drowned whilst bathing at Taieri Mouth, January 30, 1897.

— Inserted by his wife, Tina Stott.  -Otago Daily Times, 30/1/1903.

Green Island Cemetery.

William Thomson, (1867-6/1/1887). "the tips of his fingers"

 FATAL BATHING ACCIDENT.

William Thomson, nineteen years old, eldest son of Mr James Thomson, farmer, Woodside, was drowned while bathing in the Kaikorai Stream, near the Brighton road, last evening. The deceased was bathing in company with some other young men about six o'clock, when he suddenly sank without warning, and never rose again. Dragging was continued till 2.30 this morning, when the body was recovered. Deceased's parents are old and highly-respected residents in the district, and great sympathy is felt for them.  -Evening Star, 7/1/1887.

INQUEST.

Mr Coroner Carew held an inquest at Woodside on Saturday on the body of William Thomson, who was drowned while bathing in the Kaikorai stream on Thursday evening.

Isaac Murphy stated that he saw about a dozen young mon bathing in the Kaikorai River on Thursday evening, on the Green Island side of the bridge. His attention was directed to a lad who was going to dive off the bridge. Immediately afterwards he heard a cry from one of the bathers named Hamilton for help, and for someone to go for a boat. He looked round and saw the deceased struggling in the water. He struggled for a very short time, and then sank. Hamilton was five or six yards distant from him at the time, and no other person was within twenty yards of him. A boat with two people in it came up and stopped within a couple of minutes of the cry for help. Some bathers also came up and dived at the place where he saw Thomson disappear. Deceased did not rise again. The water where deceased went down was about 14ft deep, but close to the deceased where Hamilton was it was only 5ft deep. There was no current running at the time deceased disappeared in the water. 

Robert Hamilton stated that he went to bathe in the Kaikorai River, and William Thomson and some others came while he was there. Thomson and he went into the water about the same time. They had been in about a quarter of an hour, and witness was swimming across the river, shaping for a shallow bank on which to rest. He reached the bank, and on looking round he saw a bather whom he took to be William Thomson about forty yards distant in deep water. Witness saw that he was sinking. He could not see his head, only the tips of his fingers. He heard no noise or cry previously. He called out for help, and a boat came up, also some bathers, who dived to find the body, but without success. The water was very thick and dark, and that was why they could not see or find the body. He had been bathing with deceased before, but never knew him attempt to swim before. He had been once across this river and back again, and was going out of the water, but he afterwards said he would cross again.  

Constable Power gave evidence with reference to dragging the river for the body, which, he stated, was recovered about a-quarter past two on the following morning.

The jury returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased was accidentally drowned whilst bathing.  -Evening Star, 10/1/1887.

Green Island Cemetery.

Peter Smellie, (1852-10/12/1887). "on the railway"

Peter Smellie, aged 35, a member of the firm of Smellie Bros, of Green Island, iron smelters, was found dead on the railway line on Saturday night with one arm broken and the right side crushed. It is supposed he fell off the train while returning home.  -Hawera and Normanby Star, 12/12/1887.

Peter Smellie, aged thirty-five, a member of the firm of Smellie Brothers, Green Island, iron smelters, was found dead on the railway line on Saturday, Dec. 17. His right arm was broken, and the right side crushed. It is supposed that he fell off the train while returning home to Burnside. An inquest was held on Dec. 12 on the body. The evidence threw little or no light on the manner in which he met his death. It is presumed he fell out of the train, and some of the wheels passed over him, as his chest was crushed. An open verdict was returned. Deceased was married, and leaves a wife and four children. The verdict returned was “Found dead.”  -Lyttelton Times, 28/12/1887.

Green Island Cemetery.

David Harris, (1859-8/4/1919). "lying on the floor"

INQUEST.

An inquest was held by Mr H. Y. Widdowson yesterday on the body of David Harris, aged 64 years, who was found dead in his hut at 136 Albany street early in the morning. Deceased was a marine dealer. Annie Harris, wife of the deceased, said she had been living apart from him for the last 10 years, and he had been staying in Albany street. Witness saw him last in November, when he appeared to be in good health, though he had evidently been drinking. Witness was not aware of any malady from which he suffered. 

Alexander Scott said he had known deceased since 1914. Since his return from the war he had seen deceased now and again, and on Monday about 6 p.m. witness went home with him, having met him in the vicinity of the Oriental Hotel. The deceased had evidently had some drink, but witness would not like to say that he was under the influence of liquor. On Tuesday morning witness called in to see him, and on walking into the hut found him lying on the floor. As soon as witness discovered that the man was dead he rang up the police to have the body removed to the Morgue. 

Constable Herbe gave evidence that when he visited the hut he concluded that the deceased had fallen off a stool which was standing close beside the body. The bed had apparently not been occupied on Monday night. There was some whisky in a pannikin. 

The Coroner returned a verdict in accordance with the medical testimony of Dr Evans that death was due to heart failure following sclerosis of the liver.  -Otago Daily Times, 9/4/1919.

 

Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin. DCC photo.