OBITUARY

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22017, 15 February 1937, Page 10

OBITUARY

MR H. R. C. MCELREA

Mr Harry Ross Campbell McElrea, who died suddenly at his home, Havelock street, Ashburton, yesterday, had a life-long association with public bodies and sports organisations in the town, where he had been in business as a wool buyer. Mr McElrea had been recovering from a serious illness of a few months ago and collapsed yesterday morning. Mr McElrea was very popular in Ashburton, where he tcok an active part in the administrative affairs of the borough. He was born at Ashburton 54 years ago, and was the son of Mr Henry McElrea of Cameron street, and the late Mrs McElrea. He was educated at the Hampstead (now Ashburton East) School, and Ashburton High School, and on leaving he joined his father in business, which he took over on his father's retirement. ■

Mr McElrea was a member of the. Ashburton Borough Council for more than 25 years, having served the longest term of all present councillors. He was chairman of the works committee many years ago, and was chairman of the domain and reserves committee at the time of his death. He topped the poll at a municipal election about 10 years ago, but he was off the council for a term when he unsuccessfully contested the mayoralty against Mr H. Galbraith. He also stood for a seat on the Ashburton Power Board some years ago. Services to Town One of Mr McElrea's chief activities was on the Advance Ashburton Association, for the formation of wnidh he was directly responsible in 1932, and besides serving a term as president Of the association, he had always been on the executive. He was one of the town's keenest workers for the annual Labour Day gala, which v/as promoted by the association for town improvement,, and was a patron of the Labour Day gala. He was a member of the Ashburton High School Board of Governors, a vice-president

MR H. K. C. McELREA of the High School Old Pupils' Association, president of the Ashburton sub-centre of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, in which he took a practical course and held "a first-aid certificate, and for the last two years had been on the council of the Ashburton Acclimatisation Society. Mr McElrea was a foundation officer of the old Hakatere Sports Club, which was responsible for the formation of the Ashburton Boxing Association. He was president of this association for a term and had been on the committee since its formation, besides having been a. judge at all boxing tournaments at Ashburton for several; years. In his f early days, Mr McElrea played Rugby football for the Hakatere Sports Club, and was one of the best shots in the old Ashburton, Volunteer Rifles, in which he was a non-commissioned officer. He also met with success, at military rifle shooting contests at Trentham. , , Mr McElrea was a member of the Ashburton Foresters' Lodge and was a past master of the Ashburton Masonic Lodge, E.C. He leaves a widow, two sons, and a daughter, Messrs A. H. McElrea, H. F. McElrea, and Miss M. McElrea (Ashburton). Mrs F. J. E. Smallbone (Aehburton) is a sister.

CAPTAIN I. Q. GREGORY

[THE PRESS Special Service.l

AUCKLAND, February 14. One of Auckland's oldest master mariners, Captain Israel Quick Gregory, died at Auckland on Saturday, aged 85 years. He was born at Penzance, Cornwall, and went to sea when he was 15 years old as an apprentice in the barque Arethusa, trading between England and South America. When she was sold he served in the Baltic and China trade.

His first voyage to New Zealand was made on the Surat, which left Gravesend on September 28,1873, and on New Year's Day struck a rock off the mouth of the Catlins river, south of Dunedin. Eight days after the wreck Captain Gregory shipped aboard the Hadda, bound for Hong Kong. He was mamed in London m 1879, and left with his wife for New Zealand, and finally settled in Auckland 'the same year. For some-years he served in the coastal trade, and among the vessels in which he sailed were the cutter Energy and the ketch Fanny Kelly. Later he made many voyages to the islands in the brigantine Meg Merrilees. In 1890 he abandoned sail, and became mate of the Union Steam Ship Company's ' steamer Hauroto. He retired in 1913. He is survived by a son and a daughter.