OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 101, 24 January 1927, Page 10

OBITUARY

MR. H. T. VAVASOUR

A Press Association message from Blenheim reports the death of Mr. Henry Dunstan Vavasour, of Ugbrooke Station, one, of Marlborough’s most highly esteemed citizens. Born at Hazelwood Castle in Yorkshire in 1850, the late Mr. Vavasour a few days ago celebrated his 77th birthday. He was a descendant of the Stourtons, who were noblemen of the Saxon Kingdom hundreds of years before the Conquest. The present head of the house, Lord Mowbrav of Segrave and Stourton, is premier baron of England, lhe late Mr. Vavasour was the third son of Sir William Vavasour, and was one of New Zealand’s pioneers, being associated with the Cliffords and Sir Frederick Weld in sheepfanning ventures. Young Vavasour drove from Wellington to Wavekaka Station, in the Wairarapa, the first mob of sheep lanued in New. Zealand. The deceased gentleman was educated at Ascott College, near Birmingham. and later studied farming. In 1871 lie came out to New Zealand, via America, and proceeded to Flaxbourne, and engaged in sheepfarming there for two years. In 1873 he was appointed temporary manager and looked after the station ’for eighteen months. Later he took up land in Taranaki, where he resided till 1880; there, he was chairman and secretary of the lataraiwaka Road Board, member of the New Plymouth Harbour Board, member of the first Taranaki County Council, .also secretary of the Agricultural Society. In 1880 Mr. Vavasour came to Flaxbourne, where he was manager for twelve months. Then he went to Southland and returned in 1882 as permanent manager of Ulaxbourne, a P OS1 * tion he held for fifteen years. In 1897 he purchased part of the Vernon Run and Ugbrooke, selling the former subsequently. . The late Dlr. Vavasour married in 1887 at Blenheim Miss Bertha, Mary Redwood, daughter of the late Thomas Redwood, of Burleigh, and niece of Archbishop Redwood. there were twelve children. The eldest son (George) was killed at Passchendaele; the second son (Rollo) also died on active service in France, and a daughter died at school in England. The surviving members of the family are: Mrs. Tail Johnston, Wellington; Mother Vavasour, of the Sacred Heart Convent, Svdnev; Mrs. F. F. Reid, Blenheim; E. J.’ Vavasour, Fairlie; Francis N, Vavasour of the Jesuit Seminary, Roeliampton,’ England; Gerald Vavasour, now m Canada; and Messrs. IT. H. and John and Philip Vavasour, of Ugbrooke. During his residence in Marlborough the late Mr. Vavasour had been associated with the following local bodies: Awatere Rabbit Board, Awatcre Road Board, Marlborough Racing Club (president for 18 years), Marlborough Sheepowners’ Union (president for 17 years). He had also been president of the Farmers’ Union and Marlborough. A. and P. Association, was on the directorate of the Wairau Freezing Company (which initiated the frozen meat industry in Marlborough. and which was succeeded bv the Christchurch Meat Company). Mr. Vavasour was appointed a Justice of the Pence in 1877 mid held the commission till his death.