OBITUARY

Evening Star, Issue 21013, 29 January 1932, Page 9

OBITUARY

; MB DAVID LARHACH No longer will Dunedin residents have the pleasure of meeting or hearing Mr David Larnach.' He died yesterday evening at his residence in u Maitland street, after four months’ illness. Mr Larnach, who was a cousin of W. J. M. Larnach, was born at Arbroath in 1852, educated at Walker’s School in that town, and as a young man was in the provision business at Arbroath and Dundee. Ho came to Otago by the ship Canterbury in 1878. His first employment here was in charge of Guthrie and Larnach’s woodware department. Subsequently he went to Wellington, where he had control of the shipping of wool on the railway wharf. In 1888 he returned to Otago and became town clerk of the West Harbour Municipality, a position that he resigned to assume the management of Sievwright Bros.’ business in Dunedin. Later on he entered into business on his own account as a sharebroker, accountant, and commission agent, which he carried on until his retirement several years ago. During the mining boom ho acted as secretary for a number of mining

companies, and also for the Anderson’s Bay Land Company (Tainui) and the original Waipori Electric Power and Lighting Company. During his residence in Ravensbourne Mr Larnach was one of the most active public men in the district. He was elected a member of the borough council in 1885, and shortly after his return from Wellington in 1888 he assumed the position of town clerk, which he retained until 1899. He took up the position again, however, in 1914, and held it for about four years. After his retirement from the position of town clerk in 1899 he became a member of the borough council, and in recognition of his service he was elected to the mayoralty in 1901. He was also secretary of the Ravensbourne Regatta Committee for many years. . In the history of the Druid Order the name of David Larnach is writ large. He took a leading part in founding the West Harbour Lodge, of which he was secretary for thirty-eight years; became a member of the District Grand Lodge when it was formed in 1897, and was elected to the executive in 1899; and represented the Druids of Otago and Southland on the Societies’ Dispensary Board and Council, on both of which bodies he filled the position of chairman several times. He was also a trustee for the Dispensary Board. Mr Larnach was also well known as a Free aason. He was connected with Lodge Maori. 105, New Zealand constitution, in which he reached the office of worshipful master. For a very long period Mr Larnach took a part in the government of the dispensary established in the interests of the friendly societies. „ .. He was elected to the City Council in 1919, and with the exception of a break for two years resulting from his unsuccessful candidature for the mayoralty in 1923, he was a member continuously till 1929. At the time of his .retirement he was chairman of the Re-' serves Committee. Ho joined the Harbour Board in 1917, and continued his membership for the rest of his life. He was elected to the chairmanship in 1924, and while he held that position he had the pleasure of handing over to the Exhibition directors authority to hold the ground as long as it would be required for exhibition purposes. A full record of Mr Larnach’s activities would be a lengthy statement. Some of his varied doings may bo mentioned. He was secretary of the Dunedin Horticultural Society from 1903 to 1914. and did such good work that the society made him a life member. He held a seat on the Hospital Board from 1910 to 1929. He was a veteran returning officer. ,In 1905, when the city was divided into single electorates, he was appointed registrar of electors and returning officer for Dunedin North, and he held that position for about twenty years. From 1919 till 1928 he was one of the representatives of the city and adjoining boroughs on the Board of Governors of King Edward Technical College. He was a trustee of the Dunedin Savings Bank, and held office on the executive of the Otago Expansion League. In 1926 he headed the poll at the election of the Dunedin Licensing Committee, and in 1929 he was included in the committee which was elected without opposition. Mr Larnach has been a justice of the peace since 1897. In his youthful days Mr Larnach was a keen cricketer, and for several years a prominent player for the Grange Club. He was a man of many parts, cheerful and alert in all. In 1880 Mr Larnach married Miss I. S. Taylor, and had a family of two sons and five daughters. His younger son (Mr M. J. Larnach) lost his life during the Great War, and Mrs Larnach died several years ago. The remaining son, David T. Larnach, is manager, of the Bank of New Zealand at Waimate. The four surviving are: Mrs George Millar, Avonside, Christchurch; Mrs Davies, Kew; Miss Larnach and Miss Agnes Larnach.