MR J. C. BOYS, C.E. The news of the death of Mr John C. Boys, C.E., which took place on Wednesday night, will be received with regret by a very large section of the community. The name of Mr Boys is intimately connected with the early history of North Canterbury, and his death will widen the already appreciable gap in the ranks of those old colonists who core the heat and burden of colonising the country in the early days, and whose experience aud knowledge have been of such inestimable value to the later generation. Mr Boys came to the colony in the year 1842, that is forty-seven years aeo, as a cadet to Captain Arthur Wakefield, then agent for theNewZealand Company. He resided in Nelson for three or four years, becoming intimate with the late Mr Alfred Domett and Mr (now Sir Francis) Dillon Bell. He then went to England, and returned to Wel lington in 1848, coming to Canterbury in the following year as a surveyor under Captain Thomas, together with Mr E. Jollie. Mr Thomas Cass was then Chief Surveyor in Canterbury, and he appointed Mr Boys, with Mr Charles Torlesse as his aseistant.to undertake the trigonometrical survey of the country north of the Wai makariri river. Mr Boys remained on the survey for three or four years, and was then appointed by the General Govern ment as surveyor to Colonel Campbell, who was examining the French land claims at Akaroa. From there he went to Wellington, and after a short stay he came T>ack and went on the survey again, .being ap pointed chief surveyor by Mr Cass. His brother, Mr James Boys, who now resides in Timaru, was his assistant. He re mained on the survey, doing a great deal of road surveying and office work until the abolition of tne provinces. He was in very bad health then, and he commenced sheep farming on property he had pur chased at Rangiora* The farm life suited him so well that by degrees he got into quite robust health for a time. About four or five years ago he sold his stock, let his property, and took to travelling in the Australian colonies and in New Zealand, for the benefit of his health. About two years ago he came back and settled in Christ church. 