OBITUARY

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23001, 22 April 1940, Page 6

OBITUARY

MR JOHN OWEN LUCAS Mr John Owen Lucas, well known in Canterbury as a member of the family which established engineering works In Christchurch in the early eighties, died at his home in Rustenburg, South Africa, recently. He was in his eightieth year. ■ Born in Birmingham, Mr Lucas cam& to New Zealand with his parents in 1878, and v it was shortly after their; arrival that the engineering business was' established:. When it was found that the family was. too large for the business to-support all members, Mr Lucas went to sea, and made several voyages as a refrigerating engineer. He -later went to Melbourne, where a branch of the Christchtirciv business was opened, but returned to Christchurch in 1894. > Sir Lucas went to South Africa in the following year, and filled various engineering positions connected with mining Until he was appointed superintendent .of the Rands mines’’ waterworks in 1898. He retired in 1915 because of ill-healthi He later took a prominent part In the affairs of Eustenburg, where .he went to live, serving on the town council for about 16 years. Mr Lucas was mayor several times during that period, and was the only mayor to be elected by direct popular vote. He was. also a member ‘of the Rustenburg Hospital Board for a' long period, and chairman for some years. A pioneer motorist, Mr Lucas bought ■ his first car in 1904, and drove cars himself from then until the time of his death. He was a keen member of motoring organisations, and, in reliability trials ,in the early years of motoring, won every cup or trophy Open to amateurs. He was a member Of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers and was qualified as a marine, mechanical, and electrical engineer. Mr Lucas served as a volunteer in New Zealand, and in South Africa during the Boer War. He was married to Miss Mary Bayley, daughter of Mr and Mrs John Bayley, sen., “Alkington,” Fernside, North Canterbury, in 1888, Mrs Lucas died some, years ago. There are two sons. • . ,