OBITUARY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVIII, Issue 18599, 29 December 1920, Page 6

OBITUARY.

JAMES GOUGH. By the death of Mr James Gough, late of Greendale, Kirwee, New Zealand has lost one of her earliest and best colonists. He was born at Mofttford, in Shropshire, England, on June 21, 1830, and held the distinction of living under five British Sovereigns. He was one of a large family, and as soon as he was able had to work to assist the homo l-'or his efforts at his first situation he was rewarded with the sum of £5 per annum. He had to leave school at eleven years of age, and depend upon his observation and practical experience for what knowledge he (acquired. He was reared on a small place of two acres and a cottage, qn which his father and mother brought up their family. He was taught selfdependence and independence, and attributed his success in life to the practical training of an excellent mother. Having gained some experience among the breeders of Shropshire sheep in his village, he took over the management of a farm in Derbyshire. He came to Auckland in 1859, and went to the Otago goldfields in ' 1861, working at Gabriel’s Gully. He next came to Canterbury and took a contract to form a part of the Riccarton Road. From that he went to Greendale and commenced cropping on the Haldou Estate. He then bought land in the Grcdndale district, and held a farm in partnership with the late Mr William White, of Hawke’s Bay. Ho also cropped in partnership with his late brother, Mr Charles Gough, in the same district. Eventually he commenced buying and building the Nesslea Estate, Which gradually increased to 1134 acres, on which he resided until 1884. Simultaneously he took up laud at Charing Cross, and founded the Ilomeby Estate, which grew to 3700 acres. He took up his residence there in 1884, and remained there until his death. In 1868 and again in 1875 he visited England. returning through America. Mr, Gough always took a deep interest in local and public matters, and whilst in Greendale was a. member of the School Committee and the Cemetery Board. He after wards-assisted in obtaining a school at Charing Cross, and was a member of the committee. He w T as a member of the Courtenay Road Board for twenty-five years, and a considerable time its chairman. He represented the district on the Selwyn County Council and the Hospitnl and Charitable Aid Board. He was one of the founders, a large exhibitor and a strong supporter of the Courtenay Agricultural and Pastoral Association, being president for two years. He was one of the founders and later a director of the Canterbury Frozen Meat Commpany. He bad consignments on board the first two ships that carried frozen meat from New Zealand to Britain, namely, the British King and the British Queen. Ho exported continuously from 1883 to 1908. during the last ten years of that period his average being 30,000 carcases per annum. Whilst in the frozen, meat trade he purchased sixty-four acres of land at Yaldhurst for holding paddocks. He always purchased the best stock, and his consignments were a splendid advertisement lor New Zealand. He was on© of the promoters and for many years a director of tho Now Zealand Farmers’ Co-operative Association. He also was a promoter and for many years a director of the New Zealand ’ Farmers’ -Insuranoe CompanyHe assisted to build and direct the Darfield and Kirwee saleyards, being many years chairman of the latter company. His sound judgment in sheep was always in request at agricultural shows. He specialised in fat sheep. He assisted to build and consistently supported the Anglican Church at Darfield. and for many years acted as lay render. In politics he was a Conservative. an admirer of the late Sir John Hall and the late Hon William Rolleston, with whom he was very friendly. His sporting nature took the form of providing ground and entertaining members of the Christchurch and South Canterbury Hunt Clubs. This was a favourite run, patronised by several Governors of New Zealand and lastly by H.R.H. the Prince of Wales. Mr Gough was a strong man physically and mentally. No work was too hard or hours too long. His strong will, couplqd with his good judgment, enabled him to rise from the bottom to the top of the tree erf life. His generosity wfts unbounded. His advice and assistance were free to all who would make good use of them. As an instance of the esteem, in which ho was held in his district, on January 12, 1902, ho was entertained and presented with a gold watch and .chain, also an illuminated address signed by one hundred and sixty-eight subscribers. Ho belonged to the grand type of colonist who have made New Zealand what it is to-day, and at the ripe age of ninety nnd a half years be has gone to his rest, leaving behind him a record of which any man might justly ho proud. He leaves a daughter, Mrs Annie Jarman, six grandchildren, ten greatgrandchildren, and in New Zealand six nieces and two nephews. ANDREW LETHAM. A well-known and respected resident of Ashburton passed away on Saturday night in the person of Mr Andrew Letham. Mr Letham was bom in Lanarkshire, Scotland, in 1841, and arrived m Auckland in 1862 by tbo ship Indian Empire. After spending a year in Auckland he removed to Canterbury, and was for about two years engaged in fencing and contracting m and near Christ church and at the Springs Road. Mr Letham then started farming on a part of Westenra’s run at Dunsandel, where ho was in partnership with a 1 friend, to whom he sold his interest, and removed to the Ashburton, district. He settled on the Wakanui run, where he leased 200 acres and carried on farming foT_ seven years, till the expiration of his lease. Mr Let-ham then purchased a block of 230 acres, a portion of lit Moore’s freehold, and carried on a prosperous system of farming until 1897, when he sold out and purchased the fine estate of Sherwood, near Rakaia, which was originally owned by Mr Passmore. Tho block conisted of 2500 acres, and Mr Letham continued sheepfarming and graingrowing tor some years. He retired to Ashburton about twelve years ago. During his residence at W akaniti lie was a member of the School Committee and while at Sherwood was a member of tho South Rakaia Road Board. He was a member of the Ashburton Agricultural and Pastoral Association and of the Ashburton Bowling Club. He leaves a wife and an adult family of four sons and four daughters to mourn their loss.