OBITUARY

Press, Volume L, Issue 15021, 16 July 1914, Page 7

OBITUARY

MR ALEXANDER __I_. Mr Alexander Keir, of Charlton.. Southland, whoso death was announced in yesterday's issue of "The Press." was born in 1841 in Perthshire, Scotland, and arrived at Lyttelton by the ship Mermaid in 1863. He spent two years at the West Coast diggings, and on roturuing to Canterbury commenced farming at Halkett, on the "West Coast road, where he remained for ten years (says tho "Mataura Ensign"). 1" 1881 he sold out. and acquired 100 acres at Charlton. He took au active interest in public matters, being a member of the Charlton School Committee for eight years. He served for a similar period on the "Wainiumu Road Board, of which ho was chairman for four -years. He was a member of the committeo of the Gore Agricultural and Pastoral Association for ten years, and was also vice-president for two years. Mr Keir was also a member of the defunct branch of the Farmers' Union at 4Gore, and was for a number of years a member of the directorate of the Mataura Dairy Factory Company. The lato Mr Keir was the first to introduce the Romnoy breed of sheep into the district, and the well-known breeders (the late Messrs W. G. Ladbrook and William Rankin) initiated their flocks from Mr 'Heir's. The late Mr Keir, whose wedding was the first to be celebrated in the Halkett Church, was married in 1877, his wife, who was a daughter of tho lato Mr John Anderson ""(Halkett) predeceasing him some _3 vcars ago. Besides his son, Mr Peter Keir (Charlton), he leaves two brothers, Messrs John Keir (Charlton) land Peter Keir (Rangiora), a halfbrother. Mr. James Keir (manager for P and D. Duncan, Ltd.. Christchurch), and two sisters. Mesdames Peter Duncan (Christchurch) and Burgess (I almerston North).

The death occurred at New Plymouth on Saturday last of Mr E. G. Allsworth, who was well known in the Tarauaki and Wanganui districts. Mr Allsworth who was 6t> years of age, was successively editor of the "Egtnoiit Settler" at Stratford the "Daily News" at New Plymouth, tho Alanakau Times," and tho "Taihapa Times. ' He was for many years a member, and Dart of the time chairman, of the Taranaki Education Board, and one of tho School Commissioners. He was a son of the late Rev J. G. Allsworth, Moderator of the Presbyterian General Assembly.