OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3007, 19 February 1917, Page 6

OBITUARY

SIR GEORGE M'LEAN, M.L.C.

By Telegraph—Press Association.' Dunedin, February If. Sir George M'Lean, M.L.C, died today.

Sir George M'Lean had been in failing health for some years. The news of his death will be received with regret throughout the Dominion., He was horn at Elgin, Scotland, on September 10, 1831. At 17 years of age he emigrated to the colonies, and was employed in Australia by the Colonial Bank "of Australia, and afterwards by tho Oriental Bank Corporation. Having gained large experience in this service lie crossed oyer to Otago in 1862 to take the position of manager of the Dunedin branch of the Bank of New Zealand. Some years later he entered the political arena in the Provincial Council, in which lie became Provincial Treasurer. He was largely engaged in commercial pursuits, and was prominent in many large colonial institutions. In 1871 he' was returned to the House of Representatives as mmebcr for Waikouaiti, which electorate ho represented for ten years'. At the end of this term he was called to the Legislative Council. He was Commissioner of Customs in the Vogel Ministry from July 3'to September 1, 1876; Commissioner of Telegraphs and Customs and Postmaster-General from the latter date to October 13, 1877;_ and Postmaster-General and Commissioner of Telegraphs to the samo date from January 12, 1877; and Commissioner of Trade and Customs in the' 1 Atkinson Administration from August 28, 1884, to September 3, 1884. . In 1884 Sir AVilliam Jervois requested Sir Geo. M'Lean to form a, Coalition Government, bith Sir Julius VogcT and Major Atkinson offering to support him. Sir George declined the honour owing to ill-health, but later took a portfolio in the Atkinson Ministry. On March 10, 1867, ho was married to Miss Isabel, daughter of the Hon. Matthew Holmes. M.L.C., of Otago. His family consisted of one son and five daughters. He was closely associated with the Colonial Bank of New Zealand and the Union S.S. Company, and in_ both ho had held the position of. Chairman of Directors. Ho was practically one of the pioneers of the new huge Union Company. \He retired from tho company in 1906, and went for a trip" Home, the company voting him_ £1500 tnawrds the expenses of the trip. Tn 1890 he took a leading oart in the great maritime struggle, and in the promotion of its settlement. Tlie death of Sir George M'Lean removes a very notable figure from the turf of New Zealand. For nearly half a century he has been intimately associated with the sport of horse-racing, and it is only a few months ago that Sir George resigned from the presidency of the Dunedin "Jockey Club, the destinies of which ho has guided for thirty-odd years. In 1881 he first became a steward of the D.J.C., and in 1885 was elected president, a position he was year after year re-elected to until he withdrew from tho club. •It is just upon forty years ago since a -notable racing partnership started in this Dominion between Sir Hercules Robinson, then Governor of New Zealand, and Sir (then Mr.) George M'Lean. They imported Lady Emma, Legerdemain and Gitana, and the Zetland spots soon became popular on the racecourses of the.Dominion. The partnership did not continue long, but Sir George M'Lean carried on, and soon became one of tho most prominent owners in the country. With Lady Emma be won the Great Autumn and Eastern Handicaps, of 1881, the Dunedin Cup, Joekev Club Handicap and other important races the following year; while Legerdemain also added to the credit of his owner. .Shortly afterwards this enthusiastic sportsman started the Warrington Stud with a stallion named Gorton, by Thunderbolt from tho imported Lyra. Later sultans at this stud have been Rubezahl (See Saw—Fairyland), 'St. Clair (Musket— Pulcbra), Lord Rosslyn (St. ClanLady Emma). and at present Sarto (St. Simon—Miss Mildred) is at the head of the Warrington Stud. Among the notable horses brctf by the late sportsman were Euroclyden. Blazer, Blizzard, Vladimir, Art. and John Barleycorn. Sir George M'Lean, while on a visit to America some years ago, imported the trotting stallion Del Paso, who has sired numerous winners at the light harness sport. Sir George M'Lean's daughters include Mrs. T. M. Wilford and Mrs. Frear, of Tuahiwi, wife of the Rev. Mr. Frear. The funeral will leave the.residence of Mr. T..M. Wilford. M.P, at 11 o'clock on Tuesday, the burial taking place at Karori.