Obituary MR W. H. JAKINS

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29260, 19 July 1960, Page 17

Obituary MR W. H. JAKINS

Mr William Harold Jakins, who died on Saturday at the age of 90, played a prominent part in developing the dairy industry in Canterbury, The red brick building which is a landmark on the west side of the Main North road in Belfast, was a creamery owned by Mr Jakins in the 1890’s. Mr Jakins was a grandson of the Rev. John Hobbs, who arrived at the Bay of Islands in 1823 and was one of the first four Weslyan missionaries to come to New Zealand. Mr Jakins’s father, Mr G. S. Jakins, was born in London and came to New Zealand in a sailing ship. He became a produce merchant in Auckland and Sydney, and set up business in Christchurch. In 1890 he established a creamery in Belfast and this was later taken over by Mr W. H. Jakins. At that time the only other creameries in the area were at Tai Tapu and Sefton.

Mr Jakins afterwards transferred the creamery to Lichfield street, Christchurch. He used to recan that in his Belfast days farmer suppliers were paid 3d a gallon for milk and assistants at the factory were paid 25s a week. Mr Jakins owned the “Palm” butter factory in Christchurch, the Alpine dairy factory in Timaru, and a cheese factory in Temuka. He started what became the Mid-Canterbury Dairy Company, which was merged with the Tai Tapu Central Co-op. Dairy Company, Ltd., in 1937. At one period Mr Jakins had several depots in Canterbury where farmers took the milk to be separated and Mr Jakins would then take the cream to his factory.

Mr Jakins had a model farm at Halswell, which he had bought about 1920. and held for more than 30 years. He maintained a herd of purebred Jersey cattle and was a successful exhibitor at various agricultural and pastoral shows. He won outright the Royal show competition bull cup with Keepers’ Targuis. He was a member of the Jersey Breeders’ Association. Mr Jakins was a keen follower of trotting and he bred and raced many horses, including Oinako, Huia Belle, Winning Power, Super Flutter, Loyal Flutter, Scottish Brogue, Wild Flutter, Loyal Winner, Lusty King, Dolly Nelson, Sonoma King, Gentleman Jim, Nell Pointer, Southern King, Harold Guy, Worthy King and Sally Worth. He was one of the first users of electricity and at the time of his death was one of the oldest continuous subscribers to the telephone. His wife, who predeceased him, was a daughter of the Rev. J. B. Richardson, minister of the St. Albans Methodist Church, who lost his life in the wreck of the Tararua on April 29, 1881.

Mr Jakins is survived by two daughters and seven grandchildren. MR L. C. LEMON The Ellesmere district lost one of its best known residents last week by the sudden death of Mr Leonard Camac Lemon, of Killinchy. Seventy-four years of age. Mr Lemon spent all his life in the Killinchy area of the Ellesmere county. His parents were among a number of persons from Ireland who settled there, and the district was named after Killinchy in Ireland. At an early age Mr Lemon started to farm on his own account and continued in that occupation for the rest of his life, combining with his farming for many years the business ef threshing mill proprietor when traction engines and large combines were in use. He took a lively interest in all phases of district activity As a young man, Mr Lemon competed with success as a sprinter, registering some good times for 100 yards, and also did weß later in field events such as caber tossing and hammer-throw-ing. For many years he acted as a timekeeper at sports gatherings in Doyleston. Southbridge. Leeston. DunsandeL and elsewhere.

Shooting was. however, the sport which Mr Lemon enjoyed most, his association with trap shooting extending over more than 56 years. Starting to compete in 1903 or 1904, he seldom missed any shoot held in the district since then, his last appearance in a match being only a few weeks ago. In local shoots and matches held by other clubs he won numerous prizes. On many occasions Mr Lemon competed at the New Zealand trap shooting championships, his principal success being the winning of the Dominion sparrow title ir. 1938, while in the following year be was runner-up A life member and a former president of the EUesmere Gun Club, he acted as referee for many years, was an authority on the rules of trap shooting and did much to encourage young competitors and officials. His assistance was a big factor in acquiring and improving the Ellesmere club’s grounds and appointments. Mr Lemon did much game shooting, and was an enthusiastic member of the Killinchy Miniature Rifle Club from its inception. Mrs Lemon died more than four years ago, and Mr Lemon is survived by two sons, Messrs Gordon and Stanley Lemon, who are farming at Killinchy, and two

daughters. Mrs E. A. Alexander, of Lakeside, and Miss Jean Lemon, of KiHinchy. Mr M. J. McKenzie (New Zealand Press Association) GREYMOUTH, July 15. Mr Malcolm Jackson McKenzie, who was the first white child barn at Jacksons Bay, in South Westland, has died in Dunedin. He was 75. Mr McKenzie was born in 1885, two months after his mother arrived at Jacksons Bay by paddle steamer from Hokitika. The family lived in a rough home which was only partly finished. The second son and fourth in the family of Daniel and Margaret McKenzie, Mr McKenzie was named after the captain of the paddle steamer, Waipara, which brought a few British and 200 German, Italian and Polish settlers to Jacksons Bay in an unsuccessful bid to establish a settlement there.