John Amies

Obituary

The death of Mr John Amies removes one who has witnessed the growth of Oamaru since its birth. The late Mr Amies came to New Zealand with his parents in the ship Nourmahal, landing at Port Chalmers on May 1, 1858. His parents brought him immediately to North Otago, where his father went on to Teschemakers' run between Kauru Hill and Livingstone, as a boundry rider. Some years later deceased went to the New Zealand and Australian Land Company's Totara station, working under Mr Henry Campbell, who was manager there for many years. Mr Amies then took up farming at Kakanui, where he remained for 16 years. When he came to Oamaru had resided here for the past 45 years. When Mr Amies first arrived in this district Oamaru comprised a tin shanty, which was dignified by the title of accommodation house, and two or three small whares. Working as a stonemason's artisan he took part in the erection of many of the earlier buildings, including the Athenaeum, the Courthouse, the Post Office and several Tyne street stores, which were built during the first building boom in the sixties. For many years deceased was engine-driver on the dredge Progress in Oamaru harbour. In 1868 Mr Amies was at Totara when eleven people lost their lives in the big flood of the Waiareka Creek. Deceased was possessed of a great store of reminiscences of the early days and was a well-known figure among the earlier identities. He was of very fine character, quiet and unassuming and very likeable, and during his long residence here he gained a great many fiends, who deeply regret his passing. Their sympathy will be extended to Mrs Amies and to the family of five - Messrs W. J. Amies (Rongotea), J. A. and A. G. Amies (Oamaru), Mesdames A. Cairns (Christchurch) and E. A. Fox (Oamaru).