Obituary

Manawatu Times, Volume 70, Issue 267, 12 November 1945, Page 6

Obituary

MR. BAZIL THOMSON

Mr. Bazil Thomson, of Kairanga, who passed away recently, was a well-known farmer. Born in Selkirk, Scotland, 86 years ago, he left Scotland for New Zealand with two eider brothers, Jack (.who predeceased him 22 years ago) and James (who resides in Auckland). They travelled in the sailing ship Bebbington and landed on Somes island five months later. After spending 14 days in quarantine owing to an outbreak of scarlet fever on board, the three brothers went to employment with Major Chaytor, at Blenheim, staying just six weeks there and returning to the North Island. They made theTs* way to Bulls, eventually" securing a lease of a property from Mrs. A. Campion in March, 1880. This they farmed successfully for two years, leaving to take up a block of standing bush secured from Mr. A. McDonald, now known at To Matahi, adding to it with a further block of bush land a few years later, which they felled and improved to its present state of productivity. Ho and his brothers secured many awards at agricultural shows for fat sheep and lambs throughout the years. On May 1, 3907, he bought his brothers’ share in the property, which he farmed successfully for many years. In show stock he had the same success, winning the prize at Wanganui and also at the Panama Exposition for five fat lambs against the lambs of the world. In 1910, he and his brother Jack went into company again in a block of land known as the Kopane, Which they farmed and improved and eventually sold in 3915. There are left to mourn their loss two sons, Messrs William Alfred Thomson and Bazil Keith Thomson, of Kairanga, and one daughter, Mrs. A. M. Henson, of Mount Stewart. One son Leslie James, predeceased him 31 years ago and another, John Henderson, made the supreme sacrifice in the 19141918 War. There is also one brother, James, of Auckland, and one sister, Mrs. Scott, of Edinburgh. Th£ late Mr. Thomson married a daughter of Mr. William Brookie, who was well-known to the farming community in the Lower Rangitikei. She predeceased him seven years ago.