DEATH OF MR. G. G. STEAD

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 185, 30 April 1908, Page 9

DEATH OF MR. G. G. STEAD

. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. ACTIVE AND USEFUL CAREER. - (BY T2LEGRArn.7T-PRES3 ASSOCIATION.) :: - Chrlstohiiro!!, April 29.-. Mr. Goorgp Q. Stead died'shortly after 4 i'dock/this,-afternoon;;: Mr.. Stead sustained v a sudden, soisurp.-'a. few .days. ago, from tlio effects'of whjch ho' uover recovered. BOYHOOD Mr.: Stoad was born hi London in 18-11. Ho, came from an old Yorkslnro family on his fathor's-sido, whilo his mother was of Scottish,.descent, ;.hia grandmother .being, a h'rasor of Lovat, a. direct descendant of tho famous Simon Fraeoiy Lord Lovat,. ono of the Scottish- nobles - who woro out . in '45 with Princo-Charho. Lord Lovat had the. further- distinction of beinj the last, mail : ' .who. fell 'by:.the headsman's :, axe .. in tho Tower of London, Ins execution taking, placo in 1747. ' 1 fln'/'-Htyfl'. Mr:-- Stead accompanied :: his parents to South Africa. : and completed lus education at St. Andrew's Collego, Grahamstown. .!!. Late ,in tho fifties',' when still a youth, ho- : wasvsuccessful, us- a. gentleman rjdor, and • took an active interest m rnlo Bhqotijjg.:- In-..1865 ho • returned to England, -and on tho recommendation, of the . late :Lord Lyttelton . and Mr. . Selfe.. who gavo' him jlottors of .introduction,; he dccidod : to: settle it) Canterbury,' and left England iii jp'^^shipt^Talbbt'ior^Lytteltqii; ' MERCANTILE CAREER ~ Soon' after his arrival, he'joined-the staff, of the' Union, Bank Australia;,in' Christchurch,; but''found /that banking did not oiler sufficient scpßO ifor.. his enterprise, so he -joined'tlio'.lateMr. W.'Royac.'of Dun- , edin;' .'and*.the. -fiyinof, ;Royse,.Stead' -.and Co., .-.-graip .-.and,,-/export. ; started..: [ ;/1n.'.1870 ) ' on Mr. - Royspjs';' retirc- . merit, Mr. Stead, who had been conducting, ' > the: Canterbury : part of, tho,business, ;cbn-tinuedi-on..liisown/^account.. In 1881 ho suggested to'his friend, the late Mr."'Peter ■>/•' Cunnihghanij - as ' also a grain mer-. , ' chahfc -and- v i,wishedUto;.( retiro, ...th!\t, they should -sell - their-,; businesses to', an- English -company.. This -was done, and tho • NowivZealand.v.Grain •'Asency. Company, : with a capital of a million; was .formed at ■ Homo. Ono of< tho..; conditions of tho sale was that tho po>v;!Coinpaiiy.'should;bo satisfied that tho . two .businesses to bo bought had -made ; -;a .-,notprofit,j during . the threo . proyious -years.-' of.:/.h'ot -/less.-, than...-. £75,000..: Tlio .experts -appointed to examine tho books found ■ that; tno, net..profits - for that .term had been -£y2 j 000.;,-.;;:0ri,'the;;ne,w Company being floated, ,'thoro was a phenomenal rush; for' tho shares, exceeding -"anything of ' tho kind eves -experionepd ...locally before - or since.' .', w Thd' Company's: profits, for tho' first year- bxcecded ?£10;OOO/«but then cime two very .;bad:liaiTqsts.-i:.V.Thoi,prico :of;;-Npw, Zea-: -' land:wHeat.cat,;Hoinc fell;.from:C6s; tp about 255/ ; iper- - quarter. A;;;; Mahjv farmers;,,"wore; ' . . ruined, .vand': ilogt - so . heavily on shipments tcxLondon i and' advances : to, . : farmors ; v;.;thjit to.- discontinue '. operations. : Mr.' -Stead, therefore suggested . to Mr.. Cunningham Jthat thoy should accept ( ill;tho 'losses .on ::thp.'wheat,, cargoes that, sjiet.Cqmpany: had'sdiit. Home' since its fonnation. '/; the two . gentlemen took ',up:a4pss;,amouniing:.t6:;£72jOQP,' .which was.; thereby."saved,;;t<j.Vthe. shareholders in--: : N"o«\ Zealarid;>i r.i SirCHorace-Davoyj who.-had bcen ; consulted,''/gavo yt his opinion that . .aeither . of ■/tho' Jrms;''. Messrs.': 'Stead's, and • ,i ,Dunninghajn's,-,';was:legally;or.morally liable- . . ;o , tho;/ oirtorit: of ..fa-'i single : :shilliii£:. ■ ; - -Not pno penny- ; of, the • heavy expenses, -incurred in .wndiiig;:--:up^the: ; ,(.eompany; : fellron . tho joneral \publio,V; and every, debt was paid in ull.•; Ther-firmVof: 0. G...Stead and' Co.. was. minded io 1870, and in-ISO?-Mr. G. F. F. 'aimer ..was .. admitted - as. " ( "a- rnartaer/j Mr. "'.!tead : retiring 'frdm. 'the' business "in 1903. I fo 'sfci,ll'-'Tctoined:'JiiS' : iritcrest in. many local arid : (in^;'April, i' 1908 ); 'was • • Chairman,} of;. dirpbtprs of 'Manning 'find 'Go:;'-. ■' chairniait"of, thß.: lftoUl'. Bo'ftifd i '»f-"i;he-Alliaiii2e" '■ . Insurafice,-;'chairmah'vof ' : t]ife ;G'as:.'Cp'mpariy, ! ' . and of ; the Blackball Goal' Comnanv 3 ' manag- ; ing director of /'the' Ohris'tchurclr" ; " : Prcss ' Company, chairman of Warners,' Ltd., ando director of, tho.'Nciv,: Zealand; . Shinning Compiiny, Royal 'rCompany,. ; Mason,-'ptrutnors ..and. Co., .ironmongors, ' ;andytho":Christchurch .Meat :,Co'. ; •Ho was ' a ;'me'mber .-'of - 'the : first : Board electeosjn., 1903, and : for .three ; years acted ' as ''denuty-chairinan.': 'Hel'was . one - of, the :■ ™ r .® e ' on S.inal ..founders :of .' tho; Canterbury' ' Club, president, of .the Chamber of Gommcrco ' a ' K '' or three years' ...(1897-1900).ho,- ; w-as' : a'^membor-of;tho .Board • or, Goverriprs s of' Canterbury College.' J Ho' : also took '-a ' lpad ihg part "iii : tho establish-, Factories Tai ' Ta P"; Central Dairy ' ''SLmiTIJIE STRIKE. .;. " Mr., Stead ,took n ; prominent part in the' ' ' maritune stnkp. - 'As; soon : as -iti-cccurred ; 6 ■ - gentlomen,. ihtere'stpd. : in : tlio ; ; agricultiiralj, ; and.-, ::pastoral'-industries-i set. ..." providing :>a...supply^of '.vpluriteer. : or: ' : T u ' ?i ; — ei ;andiload-vessels" it ' Lyttolton. Farmers .were/'invited,-,to ,send : ( labour fet^c'^'ir-ond' city,'employers were askal, -to .do' -and 'the.. appeals met -With, a; hearty response., .For. some timo ■ animating i? 1 i : , '.movement, ' hcconipa'nicd tho -■ h-ce labourare -to.,port,'; in spite of -.the, daily, • risk •_ that his dctivity 'might be- acfcively, as ' it;, was verbally, resented, by the strikers. {or organisation, to ?} s v :ho 'was ably assisted' bvMr , : A.. H. ,Turiibull i vthe work of the": port' went on throughout, tho strike/ and ;! when : tho stnko was ' over-he'took' steps anonv- , mously to, contribute liberally to the help of - tho wives and' children of tho ,: strikers who had been brought- to distress, and ho .. made.- a special trip:, to Wellington to- intercede iinth.-,the.authorities on,'behalf'gf ; !the - railway, men-'jfho had been o'it on.strike.- ?• ° c r,^y^®6'lS o ;'.--'iv'as-':thb! moving, 'spirit of the Pi ess:..relief: fund, ,i and the-winter work.fiind... . . • •; . -i. At the, elections ; of;O890-Mr.'' Stead, : who ' had,, previously -.-declined:' moral■ 'invitations. td contest ' a.,; Parliamentary election ri- consonted oft';.i"ecoiving . a'large'-requisition :tb stand for the Avon seat:, hut was by.,Mr. ; -Edwin• Blake. - * • -- : i r ' -It.,.iwill - ; ba rememberaV'- that -Mr' Stead , took :.-a . very-.proniineniil:part in the, org'anisationl, during -the Boer ivar of the third ' contingent- of v Rough!- Riders, a;- carefully - . picked and'well trained, body of men, who were,equipped and.-jlanded in -South Africa , withouty'costmg i oNew ' Zealand or- Im- ' ■ perial"-.'Govcrrimcnts.-,:a,' '.-shilling,, tho - whole - : expense.;being:--bbrno .by .privato' suhscrip- . -tion;.'i! ; A'- -. Stead's( riqtablp: success, as a- racing, man - is-riknown, far- andwide • BeyondNeiv Zealand. one :of :tho':fiTst of tho Christchurch Golf Club,- and/he a-1- , ways took great . intores't;: in; rifle,.shooting, being a generous; contributor''.lo' a South Island. Ripe Asaociation ■ .ij, ■ ' . . A JUST MAN^ Apart from his terpi of membership of tho •lramway.:;l3oihl,'.i3fr.''''Stead o took no' ■ prdmiheht''part'''iii;lwaT ' There is a'-limit; t'o - the' -enWgics'Vof {hc,.3suaiest .men,'* an'd;the'! numerous ( uh'dertSkihgs with, which-hp Was connected,,-aStl to! : all'M''which'' he .'gavo' xloso -'attention,-.'riiade - him undoubtedly' - bne':',of;.thd.' J haf;dost'>orWng men in New-' Zealand. : -Hii' r h.ad tlie..?dharactor cmong thoso. who " knew/liim but ''slightly of being -hard,' But sefryed Jiim/loicv.''how.;;litt!p;'h'e' deserved.ftho; repiiCjitioii. ;Hewas',\abovo, all/ jt-'just ftriaii; beiie'ving thoroughly in I 'ltoosovelb's-'pplicy, of !"giving every man a'.'sfluar<?deiil,-'' and acting on his belief.'. In manner,"bo'was/businesslike often to the ' Joint of' abruptness, but his seeming severity, covered a warm and geiieroiis heart, ready 'to recognise good service. Prior to his latest, visitr,to - England, tho staff of his firm,-from .which ho had then s - otired, ina'de/'fiiih" a'/s'ffiall ;pfesu!itatioii, as a trib.uto . to; ! - 3 a-lkind' a'fid considerate employer," and'Tthat is : . wlint ; scorcs of the men . who'"wbr'k«d ■ under hito 'would say: of him. Hb ,itiisia ttian'-fef kberi, 'strong brain power, able* to ■probw.' commercial- aiid 1 fin-' ancial. prbbToiiis 'at.f«/ght; .and his notable force of 'flkractdr -iilaccd him in the front rank 'Of'Juiw'lZealatld prominent men; ; ' ' He le'iifos/a;widoi3:afld' four children. His eldest son'married soito .'Scais acrp a daugli-.

tor of " Mr. John Roberts, of Duncdin, ami manages his deceased father's station in Ilawke's Bay. • His.oply daughter is j\lrs. Russell Graco. ' CONNECTION WITH HORSE, RACING. Mr. Stoad has boon closely connected with racing in .Now Zealand; and his death leaves a vacancy .wliiclr it will bo well-nigh impossible to fill. In 186S ho acted as handieappcr for tho Amuri Easing Club, and was very successful with.his work. Iu 1872 lie joined tho Canterbury Jockey Club, and was shortly after appointed honorary treasurer, a position ho'liold till the time of his death. It . .was mainly by his efforts that the Canter-; bury; Jockey Club ahead in tho manner in which it did, but lie did a great deal for New Zealand racing in general, Ho was mainly iustrumovital iu introducing tho totalisator into tho .Dominion, Ho introduced the' present system; of race hooks, ■ and also, took a leading part in forming tho rules of racing, and arranging tho annual- conforenco . of racing clubs. For tho Canterbury Jockey Club ho lias acted as lion, treasurer, hon.. handioappor, steward, and delegate to the Racing Conference. : ■ Asan. owner of racehorses Mr. -Stead has 'a wonderful record, .due principally- to the. .fact that lie only bought pr bred' stock from the best racing .families, and'when lie took a fancy to a good horse or a promising yoarl-, ing, ho w ; as. willing to giyo almost any. rea-' sonablo price for it. To enumerate all the races tho Canterbury, sportsman lias won would take Quite a volume. Suffice it to say that his record stands very littlo chance of being .equalled 'in our -generation. .For tho past thirty year's he has only, employed two 'trainers, the Jato David Jones and 11. J, Mason.- With the stable have been connected the fariious jockey tho late W. Clifford, and more recently L. H. Howitt and J. M'G'ombe. Among the hundreds of | horses owned by tho deceased niay.be mentioned -Lochiel, Enid, Masim, Stepiiialc, Royal /Artillory, Multiform; , Cruciform", and Noptuifpcm. It was always.thought, that ho considered Multiform tho best of "the crowd, and- the success of the Hotchkiss horse'at tho stud must havo been very.pleasing to.his owner. ... :In-1875 Mr:-Stoad brought a filly and a colt from Australia, and since that timo.ho has mado frequent imports from England. A great; proportion of the horses racing in New Zealand";at the present timo trace their origin to thoso imports, and it is- in this rnspcct that it will bo very hard to fill his nlaco.' When ho established his stud farm he got a very select .lot of brood marcs together, notiibly, Stoppe, PuJchra, Nolly 1 Moore, Florenco'.M'Carthy, Petrclouse, etc., etc. Thus, his excellent knowledge) of tho spprt, combinod -with -'his 1 liberality, were great factors in * the advancement of racing in New; Zealand, and it will be hard indeed to find a. worthy sliccossor to tho gentleman who was in every' way tho first sportsman, pr the Dominion. ,