DEATH OF SIR FREDERICK SARGOOD.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 3, 3 January 1903, Page 5

DEATH OF SIR FREDERICK SARGOOD.

Sir Frederick Thomas Sargood, head of the mercantile firm of Sargtood, Son and Ewen,. died suddenly at Taihape, between' Mangaweke, the present southern terminus of the North Trunk Railway, and Tokaanu. yesterday morning , . Sir Frederick, accompanied by Lady Sargood, their two daughters and son, Mr Percy Sargood, was on a holiday visit to New Zealand, arid was travelling overland from Wellington to Rotoriia at the time of his death, which is supposed to have.been caused by apoplexy. The party had completed a toiir of the South Island and were to have travelled through the North as far as' Auckland, returning , thence to Melbourne, via. Wellington. -.When in Wellington a few days ago Sir Frederick was apparently in excellent health, and the news of his death has come as a great surprise to ■Ms many friends throughout Australasia. Mr Percy Sargood telegrapheS the sad news to the firm's managers throughout New Zealand and Australia.

Sir Frederick Sargood was a wellknown figure in commercial and political life in Victoria. He was born in Wai worth, London, on May3o, 1834, being the sou of the late Frederick James Sargood. He arrived in Melbourne in February, 1850, and after a short service in the. Public Works Office joined his father as warehouseman, continuing in that business lip to the time of his death. He took an active part in defence matters, and joining the volunteers in 1859 rose to the position of lieut.-colnnel. He was elected to, the Leg-islative Council in 1374, and to the -Melbourne Harbour Trust the following year. He visited England in 1880, when he represented Victoria before the Imperial Commission for the Protection of British In-tei-ests Abroad. He became Minister for Defence in 1883, planning and carrying outthe reorganisation of the forces. Next year he became Minister for Water Supply, resigning both portfolios in 1886. In 1886 he was created C.M.G., and in 1390 K.C.M.G. He was vice-president of the Mclii ;urne Exhibition. He was married t vice, the first time to Miss Marian A. Rolfe, daughter of the Hon. G. Kolfe, N.S.W., in 1858, and in 1880 to Miss Julia Tomlin, daughter of Mr James Tomlin, of London. Tn 1890 he again became Minister of Defence, resigning in 1892, when Mr Shields reconstructed the Ministry, announcing his adhesion to the one man one vote principle, which Sir Frederick opposed! He did not retire from politics, and at the time of his death was a member of the Federal Senate. A history of the firm, which began in a amall way fifty years ago, and which now has fifteen warehouses, employing nearly 6000 people, appeared in our issue of Monday last. The local establishment of Messrs Sargood, Son and Ewen was closed to-d°ay out of respect to the memory of the head of the firm. The body of Sir Frederick is now being taken to Wellington. The remaining partners in the firm's Australian business are Messrs H. Butler and F. G. Sargortd, who manage the Melbourne branch, H. Sargood, who manages the Sydney branch, J. Nicholl and J- A. Ewen. Associated with Sir Frederick in the New Zealand business as partners were Percy R. Sargood, manager at Dunedin, arid J. 0. Ewen.