OBITUARY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 196, 21 August 1933, Page 3

OBITUARY.

MR. C. G. R. GORE,

WELL-KNOWN CUSTOMS OFFICER

A former Collector of Customs at Blenheim, who had lived retired for some years, Mr. Charles Gordon Ralph Gore, who died at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. A. J. Graham, Avondale, aged S4 yeare, was the son of Lieuten-ant-Colonel Henry Ro*s Gore, C.8., who served actively for 39 years in the Army, 13 of which was in the East Indies. As Mr. Charles Gore was born \%hcn his father was 00 years of age, the two lives cover a period of 150 years. The 6on was one of the foundation pupils of Wellington College, England, under Dr. Benson, afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury. Mr. Gore had been designed for a military career, and he left the college in 1807 with an ensign's commission. He came to New Zealand to his brother, Mr. Dick Gore, who was curator of the Museum under Sir James Hector. Mr. Charles Gore entered the service of the Customs Department at Wellington about 1870, and retired after 45 years, during which long period he never missed attending to his duties. He was for 20 years in charge of the bond at Chelsea sugar works, and only retired in 1914, when Collector of Customs at Blenheim. Ho was married to Mise Cleghorn, whose parents had a farm at Epsom. Mrs. Gore's grandfather was Captain Powditch, who was Speaker of the first Provincial Council in Auckland. After his retirement Mr. Gore lived for some time at Nelson, and for the last 18 months was with his daughter at Avondale. A son, Mr. W. Gore, lives near Te Aroha.

In hie earlier years Mr. Gore was an enthusiastic Rugby footballer. He founded a football team in Wellington and played with that team in the first interprovincial match with Nelson. He came to Auckland in 1573 and assisted to draw up rules for the Rugby Union here on the lines of his old college game. He played in a representative game on one occasion for Thames, and was captain of the New Plj'inotith Rugby representative team in 1875. Mr. Gore was a courteous English gentleman, and during his long residence in New Zealand made many friends.