OBITUARY

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 1 October 1927, Page 5

OBITUARY

MR CHARLES ELLISON. The death occurred yesterday of Mr Charles Ellison, one of the commer cial pioneers of Hawke’s Bay. and the head of the well-known firm of Ellison and Duncan, of Port Ahuriri. He had been laid up in his home at Havelock North for some little time, but was apparently making a good recovery, being able during the last few days to get about again. Yesterday he was paying a visit to his son’s place. “Te Wharau.” at no great distance from his own residence. when he suffered a sudden relapse. to which he succumbed be tween three and four o’clock in the afternoon. The deceased gentleman, who was in his 68th year, was of Yorkshire birth, but came out to New Zealand with his parents when quite a child, the voyage being made in 1862 bv the then well-known clipper ship Wild Duck which for many years traded between the Old Country and this its furthest away colony. Mr Ellison senioi. who was a civil engineer by profession, did a good deal of the toilsome work in rough country that fell to the surveyors of those davs. and himself took up land at Wharerangi. which he broke in and farmed for a good manv vear s amidst all the Native disturbances that at that period affected the district. Mr Charles Ellison was educated at the Napier Grammar School and on leaving it went, with a schoolfellow. Mr Russell Duncan into the employment of the late Mr Kinross, one of Napier’s earliest merchants. After some years in this service, on Mr Kinross’s retirement, he was able, in partnership with Mr Duncan, to take over the business, in which he has been engaged with success ever since.

In nis commercial relations Mr Ellison set himself and maintained a high standard of integrity. while as a citizen he gave much of his time and ability to assisting in the conduct of public affairs. Among prominent positions which he occupied at various times were the chairmanship of the Napier Chamber of Commerce, the East Coast Railway League, and the Napier Harbour Board. In his social life he was held in the highest esteem it being marked by a genial ity. hospitality and generosity that brought him a host of friends.

To his widow, to his onlv surviving son. Mr Ken Ellison, of Mt. Erin to his daughter Mrs Alan Smith, of Poukawa, and to his sister. Mrs Bernard Chambers, of Te Mata, a widespread sympathy will be extended. To-day flags ate flying half-mast on the local bodies’ buildings, the merchants’ stores and the clubs in Napier as a tribute to the memory cf the deceased gentleman. The funeral will leave his late resi dence at 9.15 a.m to-morrow for St Lyke’s Church. Havelock North, where a service will be held before the interment takes place in r.he cemetery there.