OBITUARY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 123, 21 April 1930, Page 6

OBITUARY.

Mil CHARLES ELGAR. Mr Charles Elgar, of Fernside, Featherston, one ot the Dominion s best known tarmers and sportsmen, died suddenly during tie progress ot she Wairarapa Racing Club's meeting at Tauherenikau on caturdny. The late Mr Elgar was well-known as a prominent sheepfarmer. He owned the Fernside estate, near Featherston, and the Clay Creek Estate, just out of Martinborough, and was one of the oldest settlers in the \\ airarapa. For some considerable time he wiw chairman of directors of the Wellington iVleat Export Company, and for years also was a director of "the National Bank ot New Zealand. He married a daughter of Mr Charles Pharazyn. of Longwood, Featherston, and had an only daughter. Neither his wife nor his daughter survives him. The latter married • Colonel Hamilton, a son of Lord Claude Hamilton, and lived in England after her marriage. Mr Elgar was 75 years of age at his death, and only a few days lrom his 76tli birthday. He was a vice-presi-dent of the Wairarapa Racing Club. The late Mr Elgar was a keen .supporter of racing. He bought freely at yearling sales, and while lie never had' the luck to strike a really high class horse, ■ lie won several good races. Bon Heather was one ot Iris earliest good performers, but the high light of his racing career was the success of Iris Magpie colt Black Ronald in the* New Zealand Derby of 1923. Black Ronald, who was Australian bred, by Magpie from Malta, cost Mr Elgar 975 guineas as a yearling.- Encouraged by this success tho late sportsman gave good prices subsequently at the yearling sales in Sydney. He neaver got another Derby winner, but Vertigern, who cost 800 guineas, lias been well worth the price, his winnings including the Wellington Cup and Awapuni Gold Cup, as well as several handicaps. With David Garrick, who cost 1100 guineas at the same sale, hardly any return was secured. At the Trentham sales in 1929 Mr Elgar gave 1300 guineas for 'it colt by Chief Ruler from Rorellate, and exactly a year later had the satisfaction of seeing this youngster, under the name of Tenterden, win the "Wellington Stakes. He also bought at the last Sydney sales, paying 1600 guineas for Appledore and 950 guineas for Kalmuk. The horses in framing at the time cf his death -include Vertigern, Count Palatine and Appledore, who raced at Auckland on Saturday, Grecian and Kalmuk; "who were at Wairarapa, King Midas, Baskier, and some youngsters. Count Palatine ran second to Honour in ' the last New Zealand Derby at Riccarton. Mr Elgar was the type of sportsman wno raced purely for tho love of the game, and the success of his colours was always very popular.