PIONEER'S DEATH

Evening Star, Issue 20585, 10 September 1930, Page 3

PIONEER'S DEATH

MR A. rCALLI'M [Pi* Ukited Fun Amosiatioh.J BLENHEIM, September 9. One of Marlborough’s best known public men, Mr Archibold M'Callum, passed away at his residenc, St. Andrew, street, Blenheim, after a lengthy illness'. Tho third sou of the Jato Mr Archibold M’Callum, ouo of tho district’s earliest pioneer settlers, the deceased was boni at Blenheim on April 27,* 1860, and was thus seventy years of age. He was educated at the borough school,' afterwards learning farming on his fathers’ property, Waterlea,’ which embraced a large area of the finest .agricultural land. It is now the site of Bollard Park and the Waterlea racecourse. In 1888 Mr M'Caljum commenced farming on his own account on portion of the Waterlea property, working it in conjunction with a leasehold section at Spring Creek. He. continued to be interested in, farming .pursuits right up to the time of his deaf , for though he, together with his brother, Mr R. M’Callum, disposed of a portion of Waterlea to the .Marlborough Racing Club about ten years ago, he still owned, in partnership with his brother, a very extensive cattle and sheep farming estate in the Waikato. In 1902 ho established a flourmilling business in Grove road. He became. Mayor of Blenheim in. 1907, ami retained office in 1908 and in 1909, in which year ho was also president of Hie Marlborough Jubilee Association. As Government representative on tho Marlborough Land Board lie had a particularly meritorious record. Becoming a member first in May, 1907, he remained ou tho board until May, 1913. He was oil' tho board from then until 191.8, when ho was reappointed, and ho continued to bo a member up to the time of his death. He also hold positions as member and chairman of the Wairau River Board, chairman of the Wairau Harbour Board, and president of the A. and P. Society. In his young days he was a keen Rugby player, and in 1885 he was a member of the Marlborough team which defeated Nelson.