OBITUARY.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16289, 13 August 1918, Page 7

OBITUARY.

MR ROBERT HEATON BHODES.

The announcement of tho death of Mr Robert Heaton Rhodes, of Bluecliffs. South Canterbury, which occurred somewhat suddenly after a brief illness, on Sunday night, was received with expressions of regret in various circles in Christchurch yesterday. Though Mr Rhodes Bpent the great3r portion of his liio in South Canterbury, he was well-known in this city tor Us interest, in all matters pertaining to the pastoral industry and to sport who was a brother of Air A. G. Rhodes, of ChrihWruur.Lh, was tne aeconu, and tho elder surviving son, of tbf htto -Mr George Rhodes, of the Levels, whose name 13 intimately contacted with the early jjgljtlunjeijt and development of Timaru and south Canterbury. Mr Robert Heaton Rhodes was born at the Levels outlay 27tn, 1567, and was educated at' Christ's College and at ISxeter College, Oxford, lie attended Christ's Colle"C from 1860 to 1874, and was cautinn of the First Eleven and The First Fifteen On his return to the Dominion from Oxford, Mr Rhodes purchased the Blueclilfa estate, about ten miles from St. Andrew's towards the hills, and had practically ' lived there ever sinco. He married Miss Jessie Uidwill, daughter of the late Mr C. R. Bidwill, one of the earliest settlers in the Wairarapa Valley. Airs Rhodes and ono daughter survive Mr Time after time, since about 1887, Mr Rhodes was returned unopposed to the Waimate County Council aB the representative of the Otaio riding, *.nd from 1902 till his death he was chairman of that body, on which he fiid most valuable work. In his younger days Mr Rhodes held a commission in the C.Y.C., and was also Master of the Waimate Hounds. With Mr John Rutherford, he took a keen interest in developing the tourist traffic 'to Mount Cook. Air Rhodes was a director of the Canterbury Frozen Meat Company and also the Canterbury Farmers' Co-operative Association, Timaru. As a member of the Timaru A. and P. Association for over forty years Mr Rhodes gave it strong 'support. He was several, times president of the Association, and was a. prominent exhibitor at its shows. He took a foremost part in nil matters connected with the development of the frozen meat industry in South • Canterbury, in addition to being a grower of wool, mutton, and beef. From time to time much fat stock came from Bluecliffs to tho Addington market. Since the outbreak of the war both Mr and Mrs Rhodes took great interest in Red Cross matters in Timaru, and in connexion with the work of the National Efficiency Board, Mr Rhodes was chairman of the Pareora-Otaio Advisory Committee to the Canterbury Commissioner on the Board. To this work Mr Rhodes brought ripo experience and great knowledge of the requirements of the district. Mr Rhodes was an excellent settler, a man who was held in the highest respect, and a very considerate employer. He was a life member and a past president of the Christ's College Old Boys' Association, and his interest in the College was very keen. In 1910 Mr Rhodes made a gift of £2000 to be held in trust by the Board of Governors of Christ's College, the net income from the sum mentioned to be devoted to such object in connexion with the College as the committee of the Old Boys' Association approved. In making the gift Mr Rhodes wrote: "I am giving the committee of the Old Boys* Association a voice in the disposal cf the income in the hore that it may form one of an increasing number of ties that will, for all time, bind the Association to the school." Subject to,the proviso that at least one quarter of the income shall be devoted to assisting, the athletic sports of tne school, and, in particular, in providing an annual prize for the 120 yards hurdle race, the money mav be devoted to any object that the' Old Boys' Association wish to undertake. From this irusfc a new brick wall has been placed round the swimming bath, and recently two boats were purchased for «he rowing crews, and the cricket ground has also been improved. Yesterday afternoon the Cathedral ~. we , re t°" c d in connexion with Air Rhodes's death.

The funeral of the late Mr Rhodes will take place to-morrow, leaving Bluechffs at 9.30 a.m. and reaching tho Timaru Cemetery at 12 n,oon. Mr John Burnett jun., who fell oyer board from the Mararoa last week between Wellington and Lytteiton, was the third son of Mr and Mrs John Burnett, sen., of Islington. He wa«* d 0 years of age and single, and had only been about a week in the Mar/i----ron. when he met his death, although ho had been, on and off, about 10 years l n j the , Ber , vica °f the Tj.S.S. Co. He Jnd also been in tho employ of the ita "®frjsorating Co. at Islington, In ((liferent departments,' during the busy season ever since he was a lad.