OBITUARY

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20988, 17 October 1933, Page 10

OBITUARY

MR EDGAR JONES (SI'F.CUL 70 TBI! TRESS.) TIMARU, October 16. The death of Mr Edgar Jones, which occurred at his residence, "Otiritiri," Glen-iti, near Timaru, on Saturday night, has removed a pioneer who took a prominent part in the development of New Zealand. He lived for about 67 years in New Zealand, and during the greater portion of that time was engaged in sheep raising and agricultural pursuits. Numerous other activities also claimed his attention, and the hard life he lived is indicated in An Autobiography of an Early Settler in New Zealand, which he recently wrote. Mr Jones was born on September 24, 1850, at Mitcham. London, and left England in March, 1867, sailing from Gravesend in the Lancaster Witch. After a voyage of four months and three days, Lyttelton harbour was reached. Mr Jones's wish was to obtain practical experience in farming, but not having any friends in the country he found that this was not easily done. With a letter of introduction lie called on Mr John Grigg, of Lnngbeach, and here he secured valuable practical experience as the first of many cadets, who were taught farming. At the age of 17, Mr Jones bought a run carrying 2500 sheep at Amuri and had a partner for three years until he bought him out. A good deal of pioneer work was necessary, and later the property was extended to carry cattle. Shortly after he bought the run in the Amuri, he was elected a member of the road board, which subsequently became the Amuri County Council, and he continued as a member of this for more than 30 years until he left the district. About 1880, Mr (Jones purchased 1200 acre;.; of agricultural land at Kotherham, at " the sale of 100.000 acres on behalf of Messrs Rhodes and Wilkin, the price being £.3 an acre, lie spent most, of ihe winter months there, as there was plenty lo do in breaking in Ihe new place, lie had Ihe distinction in being the first in Ihc Amuri district, to grow turnips for fattening lambs on a large scale. In 1885 he leased. Pahau Pastures, and in 1899 purchased Mount Nessing, Albury. This station had .12,500 sheep on it when Mr Jones made the purchase, and he afterwards added Mount Nimrod lo it, making altogether 35,000 acres carrying 18,000 sheep. He retained the two properties in Amuri. Mr Jones disposed of the Upper Waiau run and the Rotherham farm in 1903, and in 1913 sold Mount Nessing to the New Zealand Land Purchase Board, the property being cut up into about 13 blocks. After the sale of Mount Nessing he went v/ith Mrs Jones and his family to England, and was there when the war broke out. In view of the fact that they could not actively assist in hostilities, Mr Jones and his family subscribed from £2OOO to .£3OOO a year to various funds. He returned in 1915, with his family, via America, to New Zealand. While in Vancouver, Mr Jones assisted materially with funds for recruiting volunteers from the United States for the British Army. Mr Jones took a wide interest in plans for better fighting equipment, and soon after his return to New Zealand he advocated at a public meeting in Christchurch the mass production of aeroplanes by the Allies. After the war he wrote a' circular letter advocating the adoption of a universal language, as he believed that this would help more than all the League of Nations could do to establish universal peace and understanding. Alter his return to the Dominion, Mr Jones purchased "Otiritiri," Glenit], and he lived there in retirement up to the time of his death. Although in his earlier years Mr Jones had been a member of the Amuri County Council, he did not take an active pan m public affairs in South Canterbury, although any proposal in the interests of progress received his whole-hearted support. He gave large sums of money towards different funds. He was especially interested in the work of the Orthopaedic Hos- ■ i.u when it was opened in Morgan's roan, Timaru, and he presented u : ' '' :; "" ' '' the authorities. When the hospital was closed in 1926, it was his wish that it should be handed over to the St. John Ambulance Association, together with £IOO with which to repair it. The ambulance is now known as "The Edgar Jones Ambulance." Mr Jones was for many years president of the South Canterbury branch of the St. John Ambulance Association, and up to th»» time of his death was patron. He was keenly interested in the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and was a member of the Timaru committee. He took a keen interest in tne work of the Salvation Army of which he was an enthusiastic supporter. The welfare of homeless chi dren was another of his activities and he was an active supporter of St' Saviours Orphanage, Timaru. Dr' Barnadrrs Homes also interested him' is survived by his widow, five daugmers, Mrs J. C. Guinness ("Fnrn- ™, ,','•' I T alln ß-». Mrs Malcolm Miller 'Wellington;, Misses Margery, Joyce and Enid, and a son, Mr Griffith Ed.gar Jones.

MR T. K. GUNNION

'the death occurred at Temuka last evening of Mr Tho.nas Edward Gunnion, 0.8. E., a former Mayor of Temuka and one of the outstanding tigures in the progress of (hat town. Mr Gunnion was 70 years of age. i Mr Gunnion was born in the Avon district, Clrrislchurch, and lived there until 1876, when his family bought a farm near Temuka. A few years later he purchased a carrying business in Temuka, and this he carried on until the time of his death. He was a member of the Temuka Borough Council for 22 years, 10 of which he served as Mayor, and was primarily responsible for the installation of an electric lighting system, a new water supoly, and a new drainage scheme for 'the west side of the town. Much of the credit for Temuka's fine domain and war memorial was due to him. and his inteiest in the development of the town will be perpetuated by his gift of a magnificent native shrubbery. He was awarded the Order of the British Empire for patriotic work during the war years. Mr Gunnion was a foundation member of the Cycling and Athletic Club and (he Caledonian Society, and was lor many years an active member .if 'he Temuka Fire Brigade. Rugby football and swimming were among the sports in which he look an active" .interest. He was a past-president of the Municipal Band and a trustee of the Pipe Band. As a mark of respect to the memory ot Mr Gunnion, the annual meeting of the Temuka Swimming Club, which was to have been held last night, was J postponed.

MR J. A. SHAND [THE TEESS Special Service.] WELLINGTON, October 16. The death has occurred of Mr James Arthur Shand, who was a war correspondent in the South African war. He was editor of the "Thames Star" from 1901 to 1915, and in the Great War he was a captain in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. For some years he was a sub-editor on the "New Zealand Times." Mr Shand was born in 1869, a son of Mr George Shand, of the Taieri Plain, Otago. and formerly of Aberdeen. He was educated at the Park

School and the Normal School, Dunedin, and was apprenticed to the Duncdin "Star." At one time he was special mining reporter of (he •■NewZealand Herald." He married a daughter of Captain P. Leith, of Dunedin. DR. F. NITOBE VICTORIA (British Columbia). October 15. Doctor Inazo Nitobe, aged 71, Japan's last representative at the League of Nations and delegate to the Institute of Pacific Relations meeting at Banff, died to-night after a month's illness with complications following pneumonia. [Dr. Nitobe was educated in Japan and at American and German universities. He held a number of professional posts in Japanese universities before, in 1926, he was appointed to an under-secretaryship on the League ot Nations secretariat.]