OBITUARY

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23209, 21 December 1940, Page 12

OBITUARY

MB B. E. H. TRIPP

The death occurred at Timaru yesterday of Mr Bernard Edward Howard Tripp. C.8.E., F.R.G.S.. in his seventythird year. A son of the late Mr C. G. Tnpp, of Orari Gorge Station, a pioneer sheepfarmer, Mr Tripp was born at Orari Gorge and was educated at Christ's College. After leaving school he was for several years in a merchant’s office in Christchurch. He then gained pastoral experience with his father, who was the first to put sheep on hill country in South Canterbury, and he later managed the Oran Gorge station lor 16 years. On the death of their father, the four sons ran the station- In 1910, the Government purchased half of the properly, and the remaining part now carries about 20,0Uu Romney Marsh and Corriedale cross sheep. In 1900, with his brother, Mr J. M. H. Tripp, and Mr G. Pinckney as partners, he, purchased Glenaray

Station, a Southland property carrying 30,000 sheep and 1500 head of cattle. His pastoral interests extended to Australia. He was part-owner of Richmond Downs station Jn Queensland until 1913, and of the Chudleigh Park cattle station, also in Queensland, until 1914, During the Great War, Mr Tripp was an indefatigable worker lor the Red Cross and a generous giver to war funds. He was a member of the Red Cross council and he was the first New Zealander to leave for Egypt and England to organise the Red Cross. At his own expense, he attended the International Red Cross Conference at Geneva in 1920. He also attended the 1924. conference at Paris and the Empire Red Cross conference at London in 1930, , , Mr Tripp devoted much attention to meat and wool questions. He was a member of the Taxation and Agricultural Commissions in 1922 and he represented New Zealand at the Wool Conference at Bradford in 1930 and at the Empire Wool Conference at Melbourne in 1931. In 1908, he was president of the Canterbury Sheepowners’ Union and he was president of the Timaru Agricultural and Pastoral Association in 1919, and for seven years he was a member of the board of governors of the Canterbury Agricultural College. Enjoying wide popularity, Mr Tripp was prominent as a local body administrator in South Canterbury. He was chairman of the Mount Peel Hoad Board from 1914 to 1916. He sat on the Timaru Harbour Board for nine years. He was a life Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and the Royal Colonial Institute. He married in 1901 Miss Cecilia Fletcher, the daughter cf the late George Fletcher, of Sapio station on the river Murray, Australia.

MR ROBERT BISHOP

Mr Robert Bishop, an old resident of Papanui, and one of Canterbury’s pioneers, died at his home in Sawyers Arms road last week.

Mr Bishop was born at Peckham, London,' in 1851, and when seven years of age came with his parents and Mrs James Bishop to Lyttelton, in the sailing ship Maori. Here they transhipped to a small craft,’ and sailed by New Brighton to the Heathcote wharf. At the wharf they were met by a bullock waggon, and conveyed to the area afterwards known as Windmill road, Spreydon. Two years later they trekked across to Papanui, at that time a wilderness of flax and raupo swamp. Survey pegs and a drain guided them to the plot of land upon which they were to settle. Here, in what soon became known as Bishop’s road, they built their sod and timber house. The timber and sun-dried bricks for the building were floated down the drain, the only practicable method of conveyance.

What is believed to have been the first commercial orchard in Canterbury had its origin here. A correspondent from Home used to place a few pips of fruit trees in his letters to the Bishop family. These were carefully planted and raised. Many of these trees are still in full bearing, the orchard now being owned by Mr Davies. The Bishop family played their part in the pioneer work of the province, especially in the Hororata and Southbridge districts, where they assisted in the erection of many miles of sod fences.

At the age of 22, Mr R. Bishop joined his brother in a farming venture, securing a lease of 100 acres at Waltham. Hie house that served as a homestead on this property, now known as Sandridge, is still standing. At the expiration of the lease three years later, they moved to Pleasant Point, South Canterbury, where the brothers farmed for seven years. Disposing of his Interest m this property, Mr Robert Bishop re. turned to Papanui and bought a piece of land at the corner of Sawyers Anns and Hlghsted roads. Here for many years he carried on as ah orchardist. What is thought to be the first shipment of apples to England from Canterbury was made by Mr Bishop in 1892. For 50 cases sent by the sailing ship Duke of Westminster, the grower received the sum of £3 17s. Fifty-three years ago Mr Bishop married Miss Annie L, Coombs, of Papanui, and for many years he and his wife were actively interested in the work, of the local Methodist Church, both of them being teachers in the Sunday school, and Mr Bishop serving as a trustee.

Mr Bishop is survived by his widow and by his only sister, Miss R. S. Bishop, of Bealey street. His three brothers, who predeceased him. were Messrs William Bishop, of Papanui James Bishop, of Pleasant Point, and Frederick A. Bishop, of Bishop’s corner, Southbridge.

MR J. A. GELLETY Mr John Anthony G'ellety, of Lyttelton, died at Christchurch on Saturday. Mir Gellety, who was born at Lyttelton 62 years ago, was the eldest son of the late .Mr and Mrs Anthony Gellety, of Lyttelton. He was educated at the Christchurch Marist Brothers’ School and St. Joseph’s School, Lyttelton, After engaging In the grocery business he took up farming at Governor’s Bay, where he was a member of the Mount Herbert County Council and its chairman for two years. Mr Gellety took much, interest in the general welfare of the district. For many years he was a member of the Lyttelton Club, and president of the club In 1006. He married Miss Jessie Gray, who died 15 years ago.