Obituary.

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume XXII, Issue 3788, 5 April 1916, Page 2

Obituary.

MR JOHN LOCHHEAD. The news of the death of Mr John Lochhead, a well known Leeston farmer, which occurred at the Christehurch Hospital on Monday afternoon, was received with deep regret by bis many friends \ throughout the Ellesmere County. 'x Mr Lochhead's health had been causing his friends a good deal of anxiety for some considerable time and on the 13th of last month he was overtaken by a serious illness which necessitated his removal to the hospital. He underwent an operation on Friday last, but instead of improving his condition became worse and he gradually sank and pass[edaway. r -~^ The eldest son of the late Mr John Lochhead, who was one of the Ellesmere pioneers, Mr Lochhead, jun., was born at Beath, Ayrshire, Scotland, and came out to New Zealand with his parents over fifty years ago. After spending a short time in the North, Mr and Mrs Lochhead and their son came to Canterbury, and Mr Lochhead and his brother took up land in the Leeston-Lakeside district in the days when a great part -of the Ellesmere land was nothing but swamp. Mr Lochhead, jun., had, therefore, seen the district grow and develop and as a young man had helped with much of the drainage and other pioneering work. He had always taken a keen interest in stockraising, especially in the breeding of Clydesdale horses, and was regarded as a very capable judge, having acted in that capacity at many shows. The late Mr Lochhead had been a member of the Ellesmere A. and P. Association for a very long period and filled the office of president several years ago. His i uncle, the late Mr Robert Loch- ! head, was a member of the Ellesmere Road Board for many years, vj and on his retirement Mr John M Lochhead was elected to the vacancy. He had served as a' member of the old Road Board and latterly on the County Council for a continuous period of nine years, having been elected on June Ist, 1907. He had also served on various other bodies and was universally esteemed and respected. The late Mr Lochhead lived until recently at Taumutu, but about five years ago he took over the original homestead block near Leeston. He married a daughter of Mr Dan Petrie, of Kowai Bush, one of the founders of Southbridge, but Mrs Lochhead predeceased her husband by about eight years. A grownup son and daughter are left to mourn their loss. The funeral takes place at 1.30 this afternoon. TRIBUTE BY COUNTY * COUNCIL. The news of Mr Lochhead's death was received by the Ellesmere County Council on Monday while; the monthly meeting was being held a&4 the council decided to adjourn i$ a mark of of respect, In moving- a motion of condolence with the relatives, the chairman (Cr. J. Cunningham) said that the sad news had come with painful suddenness. He had not known tbe late Mr Lochhead very intimately until they became associated as members of the County Council, v but since* then he had found' Mr Lochhaad a sterling gentleman; upright and fair in all his dealings and always actuated by a desire to do lais level best fbr;the ratepayers of th§ county as a whole. He felt that the Council had sustained a a |b eat loss, while the members barT lost a personal friend and one wha se advice was of great btenefk X to tihem as well as to the district* The chairman formally moved a resolution placing on record the council's high appreciation of the val ua ble services rendered by the lattr; Mr Lochnead and conveying to the. relatives the council's deep sy Apathy. '. to seconding the resolution, Cr* S -ABctf said he could heartily end e?se all that the chairman had said. Ifc had served with the late Mr, I on the council and the o If I Road Board for ,many years and had found him a true friend and cor league. Though a Very modest as d unassuming gentleman, the lal eMr Lochhead had done a great dk al of valuable work and his loss tea the district would be severely ft It. Cr Free said that it had been C r Lochhead's desire at all times tta safeguard and promote the iin terests of the ratepayers. He W; as a man who held decided eg inions of his own and had a M bit of speaking his mind. He M d often found it hjs duty to dh agree with their late member w"i die sitting round the council t;ri >le, but, like a true gentleman, Cf Lochhead had never allowed t ft* dr differences on public matt ,er s to interfere with their per* | ■ ior. 'al friendship. Mr Lochhead ■ aba ays respected the opinions of " Oth« ers and gave them credit fof their opinions. He had proved aY yft>v\ thy successor,to his uncle, tha late Mr Robert Lochhead, whd lia^lI ia^l served as a member Of the *M Road Board for so many yeati. - . ■ - TW resolution was carried in —-—