OBITUARY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 84, 19 January 1928, Page 6

OBITUARY.

MR JOHN BOYD. , WELLINGTON, January 18. A well-known 7 citizen, Mr John James Boyd, passed away at his residence, “The Anchorage,” Evans Bay, yesterday, aged seventy-seven. He was one of the biggest owners of real estate in Wellington. He came here in the early days, and as a builder made his way until he was possessed, of a little capital which he invested in South Kilbirnie. With the coining of .the trams and the extension of the city, he covered tTie whole of his lots with cottages. At one time he was said to be the owner of between 60 and 70 houses in Wellington. Fifteen yeans ago he established a zoo at Onohunga.* creating much feeling there, and there 1 was a petition gagainst tho location of the zoo in a residential area. While feeling ran high, he stood for the Mayoralty of Onehunga and was defeated. Later tilings became slack at the zoo, and driving one of his waggons himself, he set out on a tour of the country with hist family as a zoological circus. This also was ti failure and the business was eventually given up. Two or three years ago he returned to Wellington, and settled down, not in the best of health. He was a fearless and independent character, a bright conversationalist, and a man of original ideas. He leaves a. widow and an adult family.