1860 - New Zealand: a Hand-book for Emigrants, Containing the Most Recent and Authentic Information regarding Auckland. - [Front matter]

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OBITUARY.

DEATH OF THE REV. DR, KIDD.

VERY general regret, was expressed on the 19th July when it became known in town that the Rev. Dr. Robert Boyd Kidd, B. A., LL.D., Registrar of the Auckland University College, had passed away during the morning at his residence, Mount St. John, at the advanced aged of 76.

The deceased clergyman was a native of Ireland, and took a scholarship at Enniskillen School, and from there passed on to Trinity College, Dublin, where he obtained the "First Exhibitionership" of Trinity College, and where he was subsequently ordained, with the object of being elected a Fellow of the University. Dr. Kidd had a living in Butley, Suffolk, in 1856, and while there wrote a book entitled "Delineation of the Primary Principles of Reasoning" The late Archbishop Whateley wrote with regard to Dr. Kidd as follows:-- "As a scholar, and in particular as a logician, he is something very remarkable. I know the most eminent logicians existing, and I do not know his superior. There are several different professorial chairs, to any one of which I should not hesitate, if it lay in me, to appoint you tomorrow, in full confidence of your fulfilling the duties of it more than creditably." Dr. Kidd was precluded from accepting nomination to the Professorship of Logic in a College of Queen's University, by emigrating, for the benefit of his health, under medical advice. He arrived in Auckland in 1863, and became editor of the New Zealander in the latter half of that year, which at that time was owned by the late Mr. John Williamson, formerly superintendent of the Province of Auckland. The New Zealander was subsequently taken over in July of the following year by Messrs. Jas. Heron, W. H. Seffern, and Dr. Kidd, but in the following year the firm retransferred the paper to Mr. Williamson, and Dr. Kidd ceased his connection with journalism. At a later date Dr. Kidd started the Collegiate School in company with Mr Joseph N. Flower, in a boarding and day school at the corner of Upper Queen-street and Karangahape Road, which was the then leading educational institution of Auckland; and from this school he removed to a building in Upper Queen street, then known as Wesley College, and thence as headmaster to the first Auckland College and Grammar School, then held in a building which is now known as the Howe-street Kindergarten; the opening ceremony being graced by the presence of H. R. H. the Duke of Edinburgh. Subsequently the Auckland Grammar School was transferred to the building now used as the Police Barracks, in old Albert

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Barracks Square, where he held the position of chief classical master. Later on he became Registrar of the Auckland University College, and Secretary to the Grammar School Board of Governors. He was also in the early days Secretary of the Northern Association. Dr. Kidd once taught classics and mathematics at the Wesley College, and was likewise tutor at St. John's College, Tamaki. He was never in charge of a church in this colony, but temporarily officiated at St. John's College and St. Matthew's Church in former years. Dr. Kidd was also an influential member of the Masonic order, having been for many years past, and also up to the present time, Chaplain of Lodge Ara, 348, I. C.

Dr. Kidd leaves a family of two sons and three daughters, one of the daughters being Mrs. Bruce, of Mount St. John.

The funeral of the late Dr. Kidd took place on Saturday, the 21st July. The chief mourners were deceased's two sons, Messrs. William and Robt. Kidd, and the Messrs. Bruce; Auckland College and Grammar School Board of Governors was represented by the Hon. Colonel Haultain and the Rev. C. M. Nelson; Council of the Auckland University, Rev. W. J. Williams and Herr Schmitt (Chair of Music); Auckland College and Grammar School staff, Messrs. Tibbs (head master). O. Ilbert, and Rev. J. K. Davis; Grammar School Old Boys' Association, Dr. King and Messrs. E. W. Burton, E. E. Vaile, H. King, and Biss; University Graduates' Association, Messrs. F. E. Baume and M. Boyle; Students' Association, Messrs. Mulgan, P. F. Battley, and G. Wither. The chief mourners of the Masonic order were Brothers W. J. Rees, P. G. M., I. C.; G. S. Graham, D. G. M., E. C. The Rev. Canon F. Gould, in the absence of Brother W. Anderson, G. M. Depute, represented the S. C., and Brother F. J. Whittaker, the present W. M. of the Ara Lodge, 348, I. C. Among the clergy present were the Revs. J. Haselden, Mulgan, W. Gittos, and Mr. Oliver Mays. The Rev. W. Beatty, Warden of St. John's College, was unavoidably absent, being in the Waikato. The students of St. John's College were present.

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AUCKLAND IN 1859

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