OBITUARY.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11528, 10 March 1903, Page 6

OBITUARY.

MR JOHN STUDHOLME, SEN

There will lie a wifie-spread feeling of regret at tflie news of the death, in London, of Mr John Studholme. To the preritmt generation he was, peihaps, little known, having, during the la_t twenty years taken little or no part in public affairs, but there aro few men who led a more strre-nuous pioneer's life, or did more to develop the country. He was a pioneer in the true sense of the term, for his was the first white man's-: foot that trod much of the South Island, where now the settlers can be counted by ten. of thousands, and the development of the interior of the North Island aLo owes much to his enterprise and energy. It is a pity that a complete record of his life and experiences in the colony is not available, as it would be equalled by none in interest, and even romance.

'Hie late Me Studholme was the second son of John Studholme, of Morton House, near Carlisle, Cumberland, and was born in 1329. He was educated at Stdburgh Cracnmar School, in Yorkshire, ar.d at (Queen's College, Oxford, where he was awarded a scholarship. He was a noted classical scholar, but on the Canterbury settlenient coming to the front, he was impressed with the enthusiasm that was manifested, and his college career was cut short by his leaving for New Zealand with his younger biotlius, Paul and MichaelThe brothers landtd in LytU-ltou in August. 18S1; so that fur over half-a-oe-ntury he was identified with the colony. Shortly after arriving they took up land between the Selwyn and Rakaia rivers, what is now the properly of Sir John Hall at Hororata. At one time they worked nearly the whole of the country between these two rivers, from the hills to the sea. In the following year the three brothers, with Messrs Braysihaw and the late Mr Sefton Moorhouse. went over to Victoria and spent a few montlis on the Bal-irat diggings. They returned to Canterbury via Nelson, walking down the coast from there to Christchurch.

Mr John Studholme -spent the greater part of live or six years in exploring the South Island., and one oi his trip.s was made on foot Horn Nelson to the Bluff. He explored tiie country of which Inveicargill i« now tne «*ntre with Drl Menzies and Captain Bellaiis as his companions, ~;ul bc-vond tiie uutive Dirds the only signs of lift-" they saw were a few wild cattle. On his wav back Irom Dunedin he and hi.s brotlier Michael too- up tne Waimate run. Mr Paul Studholme generally stayed at Rakaia, and sold out nts interest to his brotbets about 1861, while Mr Michael Studholme took up his residence at Waimale, where lie lived till his death in 1886. Mr John Studholme had a pas-don for exploration, and wnen not visiting the properties in wliieh he had an interest, hespent his tn—j m searcnmg out the most promising country tor grazing purposes. He did most of his travelling on foot. carrying his food with him, nnd it needed great courage and determination to face the difficulties and dangers of negotiatiii-' tbe country in the days when there were neither roads nor bridges, and when settlement was confined to a. few isolated spots on the coast. As the result of these trips, a sheep run was taken up on the Jacob's river, near Invercargiil, and also on the Upper Taieri in Otago. In 1870 they purchased the goodwill of Coldstream, then a Government leasehold, from Messrs Scott and Gray, and gradually acquired tike freehold and developed it into its present state. Mr Studholme first turned his attention to the undeveloped parts the North Island in 1875, when, iv conjunction with his brother Michael, Mr Edward Moorhonse, and others, he took up the Murimutu block in the centre of the North Island, on lease irom the supposed Maori owners. At that time a large track of impenetraoie bush cut off all communication with Wellington and Taranaki, and tho only access to it was by way of Napier. by "the roughest of Maori tracks, over which wool and stores had to be packed for 120 miles. Tlie Studholme Bros, afterwards acquired the goodwill of a Maori leasehold of Owhaoko—another large block of more rugged but less inaccessible country, but it was many yeurs before it had any roads. The block formed part of inland Patea, consisting mostly of high, poor pumice ranges and tablelands, quite unsuited even now for anything but very large holdings. The Owhaoko homestead is probably the highest in New Zealand, being 3000 feet above sea level. This part of the North Island was, among the Maoris, a sort of "no man's land," until it was found to have a value for sheep raising, and then claimants appeared from all the surrounding districts, and the Native Land Court found it an almost impossible matter to adjudicate the ownership. Decisions were given only to be upset, and it took some fifteen years and endless litigation to finally settle the titles. The unfortunate lessors having paid for the goodwill and negotiated leases from the reputed owners, had to bear the brunt of this litigation. It was never a dispute between the lessors and the natives, but between th. natives them.elves as to who should receive the rents. In the case of Murimutu the quarrel was so keen tihat aimed camps were formed, the wool was seized and held for two years, and actual fighting was with great difficulty prevented. These unexpected and costly land title troubles, added to the natural difficulties of the country, proved so ruinous that in the cose of Murimutu all the partners except Mr Studholme either becan_ bankrupt, or were glad to pay large sums to be relieved of further rcaponsjbility. The lease of Murimutu has now lapsed to the Govexnmer.:-. The property •ba-s been the cause of great outlay without any return whatever.

Owhaoko leasehold has still a few more years to inn. Part of this cauntry, known a;, the Mangaohar.e l_.ek,. ha.a been the subject of more Nr>.ive Land Court work than probably any other block in the North Island, and has led to many of the improvemeE.3 - in the i:«i.iv_ land 1 r.vs. In addition -to this countty, Mr Stiic'.-.i.-il.ne bad also a. large share iv the- Piako and Moniiisvl'i'...* runs, on which, though lie expended a .small fortune in slocking, grac-s----steding. f.niin;<, etc.. the natural difficulties', coupled with the low prices and high Riles of iu'.ercst '.hen ruling, caused them to be a source cf serious loss. Mr Studholme .p.nt a great deal of time and rrc-ey on these prope.'.ies, and he was the only one who really derived no benefit from them.

The late Mr Studholme was one of the oldest Magistrates in Canterbury, and was the first member of the Provincial Council for the Timaru district, which at that time comprised ail the province south of Ashburton. and, with the exception of short intervals, he represented without opposition various districts until the Provincial Councils were abolished. He was twice elected member for Kaiapoi in the General Assembly, and twice for Gladstone, having only to contest the last election when ho was returned by a large majority. Though he seldom spoke in the House, Mr Studholme was a man of considerable influence, and wa.s several times urged by the late Sir Wm. Fox to join hi. Ministry, but his interests being so lar_e, Mr Studholme declined the ties of office. He w;ts one of the promoters of the New Zealand Shipping Company, and was the representative of the New' Zealand Board in London at the time of las death. He was also one of the promote.is and directors of the Union (now the Alliance) Insurance Company. For several years he was honorary secretary of the Canterbury Jockey Club, and for* many years a steward and member of the committee. With his brother Michael he took an active pati in racing matters in tiie sixties and early seventies, winning the Canterbury Cup twice with Knottingley, and conjointly with the late Mr Harris." of Pareora," they owned. B-le of the Isle. Stormbird, Ma-

genta and Nebula, all well „nown performers.

The deceased gentleman leaves a widow and family of three sons, and two daughters. I iv* oldest, son. Mr John Studholme, reside.*, at Coldstream. Mr W. P. Studliohiit- at Kakahti. and Mr J. F. Studholm, at Ruanui. in the North Island.