OBITUARY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 81, 17 January 1936, Page 5

OBITUARY.

MR WALTER LETHAM. The death of Mr Walter Letham. a prominent farmer in Mid-Canterbury, occurred at his residence afc'Lauriston yesterday. Mr Letham had been indisposed for some time, but his death was not expected. « Born at Wakanui 50 years ago, a sen of Mr and Mrs Andrew Letham, Mr Letham attended the Elgin and Wakanui schools. The family removed to Lauriston, taking up the homestead block of the Sherwood estate,.to which Mr Letham succeeded. ' He took a lively interest in all farming activities, and he was well known as a breeder of Clydesdale horses and Corrieda'le sheep. He exhibited these breeds at shows in all, parts of Canterbury, arid he 'achieved considerable success. He was known as an authority on both breeds, and he was chosen to judge in the ring at several .shows in the province. "Ho gave excellent, service in the interests of the Ashburto.n Agricultural . and Pastoral Association, in which he held the position of president.in 1933. He was a member of the Rakaia Road Board and of the Lauriston Hall Society* on each of which he was a valued member. He is survived by bis wife, who was formerly Miss H. Lemon, of Barrhill, and one child. Reference to the services of the late Mr W. Letham in ■ connection with farming affairs was made by the president (Mr Raymond Oakley) at the meeting of the Mid-Canterbury Provincial Executive of the Farmers' Union to-day. A motion of sympathy with his relatives was carried in silence. MR RICHARD CARTER.

CHRISTCHURCH, This Day

Mr Richard Carter, of 273 Woodham Rcadj died yesterday, aged 75 years. Although he was well known in many connections, it was at the Addington stock market that he was most familiar. Ho was at the first sale held there, and had for many years specialised in buying calves for Christchurch butchers. He was keenly interested in politics, and especially in local body affairs. Until the time of his death he was a member of the Christchurch Drainage Board. Since 1922 he had. been a justice of the peace. Mr Carter came to New Zealand in the late 'seventies. He was the son of a veterinary surgeon, and was born in. Norfolk, England. He worked for a number of years on the Westerfield station, Ashburton. His association with, the Addington saleyards began when he was employed by Dickens and Company. His next position was with Todhunter and Jennings, after which he managed the Westerfield station for C. F. and B. E. Todhunter. Then he went into partnership with F. E. King, in a grain and produce business in Christchurch. Some years after that he began dealing on his own account, specialising'in buying calves. Mr Carter av~.s for a long time a member of the North Linwood School Committee, to which he was chairman and secretary. It was his distinction to have been the first life-member of the Linwood; Burgesses' Association. He was one of the early members of that body. His death cuts short only by a few months 50 years of membership in the Druids' Lodge. He belonged to the Mistletoe Lodge. Mr Carter is survived by his'wife and four of bis family, Miss Dorothy Carter (Linwood), and Messrs R. C. Carter (Newlands), W. M. Carter (Cashmere), and E. G. Carter (Avonside). . MR J. W. ELLISON WELLINGTON, January 16. The death occurred to-day at his residence of Mr John Wy brants Ellison, J.P., a former superintendent of police. Mr Ellison, who was in his eighty-sixth year, suffered a long illness. From constable to superintendent, Mr Ellison held all the ranks in the police force of New Zealand. A native of Donegal, he came to the Dominion when he was 18, and after four years' experience in mining and farming ho joined the armed constabulary. Transferred to the civil police, he served at Wellington from 1577, was prompted to sergeant in 1880, and served in that rank at Wellington, Auckland and Wanganui. In IS9B he was. made an inspector. He was the first officer to be appointed superintendent when thatrank was recreated about 1912. He retired from the force in 1915. Mr Ellison was a prominent Freemason.