OBITUARY

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23570, 23 February 1942, Page 6

OBITUARY

MR R. E. MCDOUGALL Mr Robert Euing McDougall, governing director of Aulsebrook and Company, Ltd., and a well-known public benefactor, died at his home m Papanui road on Saturday afternoon. Mr McDougall was born in Melbourne in 1861, and came to Christchurch in 1863. He was educated at Charles Cook’s Private School and Christ’s College, and commenced his career as a junior clerk in the Colonial Bank of New Zealand, Christchurch, in 1875. A few years later he joined John Aulsebrook in partnership under the firm name of Aulsebrook and Company, and 10 years later bought Mr Aulsebrook’s interest in the Arm. In 1928 the business was formed into a private company. Mr McDougall was a former director of the Kaiapoi Woollen Manufacturing Company. Ltd., and the Mutual Benefit Building Society. He was a foundation member and at one time president of the Canterbury Industrial Association, now the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association. Mr McDougall was patron or officer in many semi-public and philanthropic bodies in Christchurch, and was

one of the founders of the Christchurch Golf Club, being also its president from 1911 to 1912, and again from 1924 to 1925. He was particularly interested sn art, and the McDougall Art Gallery in the Botanic Gardens is a lasting tribute to his public generosity. For this building he gave to the city of Christchurch' the sum of £30,000. Prizes for designs were offered to architects throughout the British Empire. The winner was F. W. Armstrong. of London, and formerly of Gisborne. The Art Gallery was officially opened in June. 1932, Besides the Art Gallery, many lioc.al gifts were made by Mr Mc- | Dougdll, a number of charitable institutions in the town benefiting from his generosity. The appeal for patnotic funds in the last war was launched in Canterbury by Mr McDougall, who opened the Canterbury Patriotic Fund with a gift of £IOOO. Mr McDougall visited England and America on six occasions, buying new machinery and equipment for his factory. He inaugurated a welfare league for his many employees, and provided a library, tennis courts, and bowling green in the factory grounds for their use. He took a personal interest in all their sports. He was an early member of the Canterbury Rowing Club, and was interested in a number of other sports. Mr McDougall, who was failing m health in the last two years, is survived by his wife, and three daughters_Mrs C. J. Ferrier. Mrs Griffith Bristed. and Mrs Ivan Seay, all of Christchurch, MR J. S. BRASS (P.A.) INVERCARGILL. Feb. 20. A prominent Invercargill businessman and snortsman. Mr John Stil! Brass, died this afternoon after a short illness. Mr Brass was 61 years of age. At the time of his death he was serving his second term as president of the Southland Cricket Association. He was a past president of the Southland Bowling Centre, and was a patron of the Southland Hockey Association. He was a member of the Southland Racing Club and the Invercargill Trotting Club. He is survived by his wife and two daughters.