DEATH OF MR. R. C. TENNENT

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 89, 17 April 1939, Page 2

DEATH OF MR. R. C. TENNENT

Founder of Rugby In New Zealand OLDEST PERSONALITY IN BANKING CIRCLES The death in his 90th. year, after a short illness, of Mr. Robert Collings Tennent, at his residence, McLean Street, Woodville, early on Friday last, ended a life closely associated with the early development of New Zealand. Born in Rio de Janiero in 3849, Mr. Tennent was educated at the Elizabethan College, Guernsey, Channel Islands, and, in company with his widowed mother, three brothers and two sisters, arrived in New Zealand by the sailing ship British Empire in 1864, the largest sailing vessel to visit these shores. *Six months after their arrival in this country the family settled in Nelson, where Mr. Tennent joined the Bank of New South Wales, of which he was a junior officer when the Maungatapu murders were committed. It was discovered after the arrest of Burgess, Kelly and Sullivan, on suspicion, that preparations had been made by thorn to rob the bank on the night of their arrest, their plan being to murder the resident clerk, Mr. Tennent, and plunder the bank at their leisure.

Mr. Tennent served the bank over a period of 53 years, being manager at Nelson, Patea, Wanganui, Auckland, Timaru and Invercargill. Following his retirement, ho lived first for some years in Napier, and for the past eight or nine years at Woodville.

In 1868 Mr. Tennent founded in Nelson the first Rugby football club in New Zealand, inspired by the late Mr. C. J. Monro, of Palnjerston North, and in inter-provincial matches with Wellington represented the Nelson province in both cricket and football. He also held the mile running championship of the province for three years, and almost to the end of his life was noted for his keen participation in long-distance

walks, bowls and other sports. At Invercargill he was instrumental in securing the Otatara golf links, now among the best in the Dominion, and at Timaru he was treasurer of the club, worthily playing his part in the development of that centre. Of musical tastes, his active assistance was always directed towards fostering this art in the communities privileged to claim him as a resident. Despite his many responsibilities and four sons in active participation, the period of the Great War found his heart and soul in every patriotic activity and campaign for recruiting. It was on October 20, 1875, that Mr. Tennent married at Nelson Miss Emily Boor, eldest daughter of the late Dr. Leonard Boor, for many years regarded as the most skilful practitioner of early New Zealand, and of their 11 children four sons served in the Great War. Nearly four years ago Mr. and Mrs. Tennent celebrated the 60th. anniversary of their wedding in Woodville, when some 62 members of the family gathered to do them honour, no less than four generations being represented.

Old friends and bank clients from one end of New Zealand to the other retain the kindliest recollections of Mr. Tennent for his unfailing tact and wise counsel, and in the world of sport he had gained an enviable record as maintaining the highest traditions. He was indeed a gentleman of the old school.

There are left to mourn Mr. Tennent ’s passing his widow, five sons— Messrs L. C. Tennent, South Africa, who recently visited New Zealand after an absence of 39 years; Harold D. Tennent, Dunedin; Hugh C. Tennent, Honolulu; K. B. Tennent, Ho wick, Auckland, who stood for Parliament in the National Party’s interest at the last election, and Dr. Allan Tennent, Wellington, and two daughters, Mrs. W. Olphert, Lower Hutt, and Mrs. Norman Branson, Te Araroa, East Coast. Two daughters, Mrs. P. H. Mules (Woodville) and Miss Muriel Tennent, and a son, Mr. V. Tennent, pre-deceased their father. The funeral took place at the Woodville cemetery on Saturday afternoon, many old friends and relatives travelling long distances to pay their last respects.