OBITUARY

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24961, 23 August 1946, Page 10

OBITUARY

MR F. I. COWLISHAW The death occurred suddenly in Christchurch yesterday of Mr Francis lon Cowlishaw. a well-known Christchurch solicitor. Mr z Cowlishaw, as president of the Royal Humane So--1 ciety, a position he held since 1941, was speaking at a presentation at the Phillipstown School when he collapsed An ambulance was called, but he died before the hospital was reached. ’He was 77 years of age. . Mr Cowlishaw was born in Christchurch. his parents. Mr and Mrs W. P. Cowlishaw, coming from Sydney. He was educated at Christ’s College, Rugby, and Oxford University. After beginning' his professional career in 1893, at the Inner Temple, he joined the firm of Garrick and Company which his father had founded in 1863. The late Mr Justice Alpers was associated with Mr Cowlishaw m the company, known later as Garrick, Cowlishaw, and Company. The firm drafted the original Christchurch District Drainage Act of 1876, and has handled the legal affairs of the Drainage Board ever since. Mr Cowlishaw was a leading athlete in his youth, taking a particularly keen interest in rowing. With J. Y. Daly he won the New Zealand pairs championship in 1896. He had a prominent association with the Canterbury Rowing Club, the oldest rowing club in Australia or New Zealand. He was club captain from 1898 to 1903, vice-president in 1903 and 1904, and president from 1904 until the time of his death. At Rugby, he was a member of the Rugby fifteen, and was an Oxford Rugby blue from 1890 to 1892. He was one of the few surviving holders of a pass in perpetuity to Lancaster Park, a privilege given in acknowledgement of assistance given in saving of the Christchurch Gas, Coal, and Coke Company, Ashby, Bergh, and Company, and James Snana and Company, were among the business appointments held by Mr Cowlishaw. He was solicitor to the Christchurch Press Company, Ltd. . Mr Cowli?haw was twice married. His first wife was Miss K. N. Watson, daughter of the Rev. H. C. M. Watson, of Christchurch. There were two sons of this marriage, Messrs F. W. M. Cowlishaw, who was in partnership with his father, and Mr J. I. M. Cowlishaw, who has lived in Australia for the last 20 years His second wife was formerly Mrs E. E. Preston, there being one son, Mr F I. Cowlishaw, of the marriage, in addition to two step-children.

DR. W. MCKAY

From Our Own Reporter GREYMOUTH, August 22. The death occurred at Greymouth to-day of Dr. William McKay, M. 8., F.R.C.S. (Edin.), aged 70 years one of Greymouth’s best known and respected citizens. Dr McKay had taken a prominent part, in public affairs over, a number of years, and was an authority on New Zealand plant life. He was for many years a prominent member and official of the Grey District Acclimatisation Society, and was closely associated with a number of sporting bodies, and with the late Dr. J. W. Mcßrearty, promoted the Seddon Shield Rugby competition. He was an inaugural member and chairman of the Municipal Baths Committee, an alpinist,- a former president of the Star Rugby Football Club, a foundation member of the Greymouth Golf Club, the Greymouth Men’s Club, and a prominent committeeman. For many years he was president of the Greymouth branch of the Canterbury Automobile Association, vice-president of the Greymouth Trotting Club, and a member of the Arthur’s Pass National Park Committee. In his youth he was a prominent Rugby player. The possessor of a remarkably fine memory and a great knowledge of many subjects, particularly botany and bird life, Dr. McKay was a remarkable conversationalist. He also took a keen interest in politics as s member of the National Party. A son of the late Mr and Mrs Alexander McKay, he was born at Black’s Point, near Reef ton, and was an early winner of the Watkins Medal while at school m 1887. He commenced practice in 1908 and retired 21 years ago. At the outbreak of the 1914-18 war he was in England and served in France with the Medical Corps.