OBITUARY.

Lake County Press, Issue 2794, 17 July 1919, Page 5

OBITUARY.

Mr Robert Matheson. On Friday morning last Mr Robert Matheson, of Greenvale Station, Fairlight, died suddenly at Mcßride’s Hotel, Queenstown, when he was preparing to catch the morning steamer, which is timed to depart at 7.20. The Mail says that deceased arrived in Queenstown the previous Tuesday evening on business, and during his stay seemed in to be in his usual health. On waking in the morning he complained of a pain across his chest. He was given a palliative which seemed to afford him some relief and he then proceeded to dress. Hardly was this accomplished when he passed away without further warning. The late Mr Matheson was a victim of the influenza epidemic which swept over the dominion at the latter end of last year, and as with so many others it affected his heart, leaving a weakness in that region. In view of the certificate given by his medical advisers testifying to this an inquest was not considered nec essary. Several of Mr Matheson’s neighbours, who were in Queenstown with him, and some of his Queenstown friends made the necessary arrangements for the interment pending the arrival of his young son from the south and his two brothers from Middlemarch. The remains were conveyed to Cromwell on Sunday, and thence by train to Middlemarch, where they were interred on Monday afternoon in the family burying ground at three o’clock The late Robert Matheson, who was 57 years of age, was born on the island of Rum off the west coast bf Scotland. In 1876 he embarked for New Zealand with his parents, four brothers and a sister, landing at Dunedin. Fired with the spirit of the hardy pioneers Mr Matheson and bis elder brother Dugald and two other brothers hired a bullock waggon and made their way to Queenstown, doing the journey in stages. On their arrival in the district Mr Matheson and his brothers Dugald and James entered the employ of the proprietors of Cecil Peak Station, the late B. Qallenstein and Mr Wither (now a resident of Anderson’s Bay). Later he engaged himself to Messrs Lawton and Gardiner of Moke Creek, and subsequently he worked for Mr Butement at the head of Lake Wakatipu. About five years ago Mr Matheson purchased Greenvale station from the late Mr Alex. McCaughan, and this he worked successfully up to the time of hia death, it was during this period that deceased became best known to the people of the Wakatipu. He was a man of wide sympathies and was most charitably disposed. Appeals to him for philanthropic and patriotic objects, moreover, always found in him a ready and generous response. He was an excellent neighbour, and ever ready to give others the benefit of his long farming experience and ripe judgment. In short, “ Bob” Matheson was a sterling fellow, respected and esteemed by all classes of the cummunity, and profound regret will be felt at his demise. Deceased leaves a widow and a family of two sons and one daughter. His eldest son, Robert, enlisted for the Flying Corps as soon as he came of age, and he had just received his ticket at Sockburn when the armistice was signed. Deceased is also survived by his four brothers, Messrs Dougald Matheson, Attadale Station, Middlemarch ; James Matheson, Taieri Lake Station, Middlemarch, and Matthew and Alex. Matheson, who recently sold out of Hartfield station, a property near Hyde, previously owned by their late father.