OBITUARY Sir Frank Mappin, benefactor

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33753, 28 January 1975, Page 17

OBITUARY Sir Frank Mappin, benefactor

(N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, January 26. Sir Frank Crossley Mappin, the Auckland benefactor, died on Saturday, aged 90. Born in Lincolnshire, England, Sir Frank emigrated to New Zealand in 1908. He married in 1909. He was an orchardist in Silverdale for about 10 years before, in 1920, moving to a 12-acre property, Birchlands, in Epsom. In 1962 Sir Frank announced that the home would be given to the Crown to be used as Auckland’s Government House. Although a most valuable property, the true measure of the gift was reflected in the lifetime of work he and Lady Mappin devoted to making it one of Auckland’s most beautiful and notable gardens. Sir Frank also gave part of the land which later became Eden Garden. Sir Frank was one of Auckland’s first orchid enthusiasts, collecting and cultivating plants from all over the world. Proceeds from the sale of the orchids were given to the St John Ambulance Association, and during the Second World War many tons of vegetable from the large garden were given to the families of servicemen. With the late Sir Gilbert Archey and Sir Carrick Robertson, Sir Frank effected the difficult recovery of moa bones and Maori artefacts in the Waikeremoana district and elsewhere. He gave 10 large and valuable collections to the Auckland Museum.

A Knight of Grace of the order of St John, Sir Frank gave the association an ambulance in 1933, and 10 years later he bought for it the city building in Rutland

Street which is now its headquarters. He helped not only bodies like the Foundation for the Blind and the art gallery, but smaller organisations like the Cornwall Cricket Club and the Dorian Singers. Sir Frank, who was the sixth baronet, succeeded to his father’s title in 1942. He is survived by three daughters. Lady Mappin died in 1973.