OBITUARY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 54, Issue 191, 26 May 1934, Page 6

OBITUARY

COLONEL JOHN STUDHOLME.

ASHBURTON COUNTY PIONEER.

PUBLIC MAN AND SOLDIER. Advice lias been received from Christchurch of the death of Colonel John Studholme, C.8.E., D. 5.0., aged 71. An early pioneer Of the. .Ashburton County, Colonel Studholme' succeeded his father as owner of the Coldstream Estate at Hinds, and took a prominent part in local body work in the County.. Of latter years he has lived in! retirement in Christchurch. Born at Hororata in February, 1863, Colonel Studholme was the eldest son of Mr John Studholme, of Morton House, Carlyle, England, who was one of the earliest pioneers, arriving in New Zealand in 1851. He was educated at Farnborough, England, Christ’s College, New Zealand, and at Christchurch, Oxford, where he graduated B.A. in 1887 and M.A. in 1891. From 1888 to 1891 he was engaged in farming at Coldstream, 'and the years 1891 to 1895 were spent by him, chiefly in the North Island,- assisting his father in connection .with his northern property. From 1895 to 1897 he was engaged partly in travelling and partly studying the conditions of life in East London, at the Oxford House.

In 1897 Mr Studholme married a daughter of the late Dr. Thomson, Archbishop of York, and there were three sons. Messrs John Studholme, who is studying law in England, Richard H. Studholme, a solicitor in England, and Derek S. Studholme, a sheepfarmer, at present at Coldstream. From 1897 he farmed the Coldstream Estate at Hinds, and after following pastoral pursuits for many years retired to live at “Middleton Grange,” Upper Riccarton, Christchurch. A member of the Ashburton County Council for many years, the Colonel represented the Council and many other Ashburton local bodies at the conferences of local bodies convened by the Mackenzie Government to consider the Local Government Bill, 1912. He was president of the Ashburton Agricultural and Pastoral Associatipn for many years, and a delegate of the Association at many A. and F. conferences in New Zealand. The first president, he took a keen interest in the Ashburton County Racing Club, and was a member of the Board of Governors of the Ashburton Technical School. He held the office of chairman of the Coldstream Road Board for a considerable period, and-was O.C. Ashburton Mounted Rifles. The Colonel was also interested in the Farmers’ Union, and in 1901 was president of the North Canterbury executive. Always interested in education. Colonel Studholme studied agricultural education and home science in 1905 and 1908, travelling extensively in Canada, America and England for tips purpose. In. 1909 he initiated the chair of home science at the University of Otago. Studholme; House, Dunedin, a department of the University, bears his name. An Anglican by creed, he was a member, of the Diocesan Synod, and at one time a member of the Diocesan Standing Committee, In 1908 he represented the Christchurch Anglican Synod and the Pan-Anglican Congress in London.

In 1902 and 1905 lie unsuccessfully contested the Ashburton seat against the Seddon Government, The Colonel commenced his military career as a trooper in the Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry for three, years. He was a lieutenant for a year, and later Q. Ashburton Mounted Rifles, until 1907. He was a major and second-in-command of the Bth South Canterbury Mounted Rifles from 1907 till 1908. He served with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the Great War from March, 1915, to January,; 1920, seeing service in Egypt, Gallipoli, France and Germany. He was awarded tlie D.S.O. at Gallipoli. He was appointed military secretary and later assistant-adjutant-general of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force on General Sir Alexander Godley’s staff. He had the Order of C.B.E. conferred upon him in 1919. He was posted to the retired fist as lieutenant-colonel in 1922. Colonel Studholme was a director of the New Zealand Shipping Company, Ltd., a rqember of the Boapd of Governors of Christ’s College, a past member of the Canterbury University College and Canterbury Agricultural College Boards of Governors. Taking a prominent part in the Bible-in-Schools League, he was Dominion treasurer at the time of his death, The Colonel’s second wife was a daughter of the Hon. Sir Charles Bowen, private secretary tp Mr John R. Godley, the founder of Canterbury. Colonel Studholme has published several books as follow:—“Some Records of the New Zealand E.F.” (1928), “The Work of the Church Among the .White Settlers of New Zealand” (1908), “Religious Instruction in the State Primary Schools of Great . Britain” (1930).

MR JOHN ANDERSON. I • ARRIVAL IN FIRST FOUR SHIPS. (Per Press Association). CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. Mr John Anderson, one of the few survivors of the passengers hy the first four ships to come to Canterbury, having come in the ship Sir George Seymour, in the year of his birth, 1850, is dead, aged 84. His father was the late Mr John Anderson, founder of the well-known firm of Anderson’s Limited, iron founders and engineers. He was a former member of the City Council, Canterbury College Board of Governors, a life member of the Chamber of Commerce. At his death he was the oldest living member of the Canterbury Jockey Club. He was vicepresident and'life member of the GanterFu*? Pilgrims Association. Mr Anderson retired from the chairmanship of directors of Audei son s Limited, in October, 1933. _ He was a noted Rugby player in his younger days. When in Glasgow studying engineering at the University, he played for Scotland against England.in 18/1. Later he captained the Christchurch Club team and was captain of the Canterbury representatives in 18/b.