OBITUARY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12533, 21 June 1901, Page 3

OBITUARY.

[Per Press Association.] WESTPORT, June. 20. Two old West Coasiers died, to-day, 11. Curtis, aged eighty-three, and W. Mailer, in business here for maray years as a boot importer, aged tixty-one. SAMUEL GARFORTH. The death of Mr Samuel'Garforth occurred at the Strathmore Private Hospital .it 7 p.m. yesterday, after a short but painless illness, .the result of paralysis, with which he was seized at the Addington market on Wednesday. He.was promptly removed from the saleyards in a cab to the hospital above mentioned, where every possible attention, medical and otherwise, was provided for him. This was not the first paralytio attack he had suffered from, one having occurred about two years ago. Mr Gairforth was a native of Yorkshire, having been born near Halifax in the year 1839. His father was a fawner,.and he himself began his education at Popple and completed it at Hlingworth. After this, and 1 till ■he was twenty years of age, he devoted himself to agricultural pursuits. He sailed for Wellington in the barque Alceste, and turned 'his attention to the Otago diggings, where he dealt in stock and opened up several butchers' shops. In 1865 he went to the West Coast diggings, and, with the late Mr John Morrison, conducted an extensive stock-dealing and butchering trade business. He remained on the coast until 1870, when he purchased Spreydon Lodge, where he has resided ever since. In that year he married a daughter of the late Mr P. Hannon, Melbourne. His family numbered one son and five daughters, all of whom are living. Mrs Garforth died in 1894, since which time two daughters have kept the home for for 1 their father, the others having married. Mr Gairforth was a typical Yorkshire farmer, and in Canterbury .established stud flocks of English Leicester and. South Down sheep that have been sought for far and near, and have done much towards' the improvement of those breeds of sheep in this colony. As an exhibitor at the shows his sheep were seldom awarded seoond prizes, bub more often championship medals. He was one of the best buyers of cattle in the South Island. He was connected with the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association for over twenty-seven years, and he spared neither himself, his stock nor his cheque-book to make' the Metropolitan Show what it has become. When the export frozen meat was mooted, Mr Garforth was one of the first to take up what was then a risky venture, and subsequently assisted to promote the Belfast . Freezing Works, and was a director of the Canterbury Frozen Meat and Dairy Produce Company from its inception. He likewise took a lively interest in sport, and was a lifemember of the Canterbury Jockey, Club. He was a member of the Halswell Road Board",';-and'for several years held the position of chairman, and also for many years was a member and sometime chairman of the Spreydon School Committee.