OBITUARY

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27367, 4 June 1954, Page 12

OBITUARY

MR TRACY GOUGH Mr Tracy Thomas Gough, one of the leading businessmen of Christchurch, died at his home “Mona Vale” yesterday at the age of 67 years. Mr Gough, who - was principal of the firm of Gough, Gough and Hamer, Ltd., had been in poor health since he returned from a trip abroad in 1949. Bom in Sydney in 1887, Mr Gough attended St. Aloysius College and came to New Zealand when he was 14 years old. He went to the East Christchurch School and Gilby’s College and later had a private tutor. After spending six years with the firm of George Doughty, soft goods merchants, he joined his father in his retail footwear business with shops in High street, Sydenham and Ashburton.

In 1929 Mr G’ough joined his brother, Mr E. C. Gough, in the firm of Gough, Gough and Hamer, selling engineering and electrical appliances. Mr H. Hamer and Mr E. C. Gough later separated from the firm and set up their own business. Mr T. Gough’s firm began importing tractors and earth-moving equipment in 1932, and the size of the business increased rapidly, particularly during the Second World War. Mr Gough was in the United States when the war broke out. and his firm played a large

part in supplying the materials and machines for the thousands of earthmoving jobs required for the defences of New Zealand and the South-west Pacific. Gough, Gough and Hamer set up 12 workshops during the war and had 40 service trucks on the road. More than 17,000 service jobs and major overhauls were completed. Mr Gough’s home, “Mona Vale,” which runs from Fendalton to Riccarton. is one of the show places of Christchurch. The homestead, a twostorey building in modern brick, is set in 16 acres of park bordering the river Avon, approached by a drive from Fendalton road. • The property was once the home of the Earl of Seafield. In 1946 Mr Gough offered the “Mill House” to the City Council at a

peppercorn rental as a permanent viceregal residence. The offer was withdrawn when no response was received from the government after representations for action over a long period. Both the “Mill House” and “Mona Vale” were offered for the accommo-

dation of the King and Queen and Princess Margaret during their proposed visit in 1949; but hotels were eventually preferred. In 1945 Mr Gough gave four acres as a site for the Disabled Servicemen’s Civil Re-establishment League training centre in Riccarton.

Mr Gough’s interest in horticulture was shown in the blooms, many of them rare and delicate specimens, which he raised in his hothouses. He has received an award from the Royal Horticultural Society for one of his plants. His home is furnished in period style, and contains many fine examples of old china and oil paintings. He owned what is probably the best collection of Goldie’s works in New Zealand.

Interest in Cruising Mr Gough’s main outdoor relaxation was cruising. He was patron of the Banks Peninsula Cruising Club and a life member, having joined the club on its foundation. He owned a motor launch, which he kept in the Bay of Islands. He also once owned the A class keel yacht, Marangi. His motor ketch, Friendship, was taken over by the Navy during the war. He held a New Zealand championship for outboard motor-boat racing and was formerly commodore of the Canterbury Outboard Motor-boat Club, vice-chairman of the Banks Peninsula Cruising Club, and vice-president of the Canterbury Yachting Association. The first shock-therapy machine in New Zealand was made by Gough, Gough and Hamer, and sent to the Sunnyside Mental Hospital. This type of machine has now become an accepted part of the treatment of certain types of mental diseases. Mr Gough married Miss Julia Daisy Hill, of Christchurch, and had two sons, Messrs Owen Gough and Blair Gough, and two daughters. He is survived by his second wife, Mrs M. B. Gough, the two cons, and one daughter, Miss Beryl Gough. The executive of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce last evening passed a motion of sympathy with the relatives of Mr Goygh. CAPTAIN H. S. COLLIER (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, June 3. Captain H. S. Collier, master of the four-master barque Pamir when it was owned by New Zealand, collapsed in Mount Albert road and died tonight. Captain Collier sailed the Pamir round Cape Horn carrying cargo to England. With him on his last voyage was Mrs Collier, keeping the wellestablished tradition in sail that the captain’s wife goes to sea with him.