OBITUARY.

Bruce Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 73, 17 September 1917, Page 4

OBITUARY.

MR GEORGE SMITH, JUNE. The death occurred at his residence, SIS George Street, Dunedin, on Wednesday, of Mr George Smith, juiir. (late of Balclutha), in his 56th year. The late Mr Smith had been in failing health for some years, and his death, though it occurred suddenly in the end, was not unexpected. He was born .at Hillside (Caversham), and when a lad of 15 came south with his parents to Toiro, where his father, Mr George Smith, senr., purchased his well-known "Bankfoot" farm. Some years later Mr Smith, senr., purchased •''Rockland" farm, at Warepa, and the Toiro farm was eventually taken over.by Mr Smith, junr., who remained in occupation for several years before selling out to Mr H. Hogg. The deceased gentleman came to Balclutha. at the time of the dredging boom, where he set up in business as a sharebroker, but he later joined the staff of Messrs Wright, Stephenson and Co. as local manager and auctioneer. He remained with this firm for some nine or 10 years, bur the unsatisfactory state of his ■health rendered it necessary for him to retire from business in order to | recuperate. When the new Crown Hotel ! building was erected the lease was purchased by the late Mr Smith, and the | hotel was conducted under his manage- ' ment for about six years, but the condition of his health remaining uusatis- , factory he sold Jus interest in the hotel business to the present occupier (Mr A. , Woods). He then went to Quecnstown in the hope that the change to the . Lakes district might prove beneficial I to his health, but after remaining there ; for about five months he went to Dunedin, where, he had since lived in retirement. During his occupancy of the Crown Hotel Mr Smith, together with Mr E. Thurlby, purchased Mr Mosley's farm at Inchclutha, which they lately sold to the present owner, Mr W. Sutherland. The late Mr Smith took an active interest in the public life and the various local activities of the Clutha district. He was a member of the Balclutha Borough Council for two' years, and took a keen interest in the Otago Expansion' League, having at one time acted as local secretary. He was also a member of the Clutha and Matau A. and P. Society, the Clutha branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union and the Clutha Clydesdale Horse Club, and was one of the gentlemen | responsible for the importation of the j-famous Clydesdale stallion "Boquhan [Kennedy." The deceased gentleman took a very prominent part in promotj ing and establishing the South Otago j Freezing Company's works at Finegaud, of which company ho was a sharc- | holder, lie was a keen political supporter of the Reform Party. The late Mr Smith was married to Miss ManMason, fourth daughter of the late Mr Peter Mason, and he is survived by his widow and three daughters—Misses Lena, Thclma and Eveline. He also leaves two sisters, Mrs George Somerville (Pine Bush, Southland) and Mrs Henry Hogg (Chicory Farm, Inchclutha), and one brother, Mr Alexander Smith (manager of the late Mr Adam Johnston's farm at Kaihiku), to mourn their loss. His brother, Mr John Smith, died at Warepa several years ago.