Arthur Evans
Erected by his loving sisters
Arthur Evans headstone
Arthur had been a salesman at Hill & Sons, hatters, for 17 years and boarded with Samuel Webb and his wife in Ghuznee Street for eight years. He didn’t speak much about his relatives before coming to New Zealand, but it was thought that he had a mother or some other near relative living in Melbourne or Bendigo.
In 1893 Arthur was suffering from liver disease and had threatened to kill himself for the eight weeks leading up to his death. Five weeks prior to his death, his symptoms were so terrible that he resigned his job, where he was a ‘most trusted servant’. Mr and Mrs Webb watched him very closely.
At about midnight on 23rd October 1893, Mrs Webb said that she felt unwell, and Arthur put on his hat and coat and rushed off in search of medical aid. As time went on, he did not return and the Webbs along with several friends went out in search of him.
A hat and coat were found at the end of Jervois Quay and Arthur’s body not far away. In the pocket was a life policy for £300 together with several blank Will forms. His funeral was held on 25th October departing from his home in Ghuznee Street. It was well attended with the procession including about 16 carriages.
Among Arthur’s property was found a letter addressed to his brother-in-law in Australia, stating that he planned to go to England and should anything happen to him on the voyage that it would be worth his while to enquire into his estate.
Arthur’s parents pre-deceased him. He left four sisters who lived in Williamstown, Victoria.
Plot: Karori Cemetery Public/#/342
The headstone reads:
Loving Remembrance of
Our Dear Brother
Arthur Evans
Who Died October 24 1893
Aged 47 years
Low lies the form that we did love,
Still is that faithful heart to-day,
Almighty God in heaven above
Has taken the soul from the worthless clay.
‘Tis hard to part from one so dear
Who on earth we loved so well
Yet God in his word tells us not to despair,
That tis not an eternal farewell.
Erected by his loving sisters.