Otamatea Leader Passes

Northern Advocate, 11 June 1938, Page 6

Otamatea Leader Passes

C.amalea and Northland. today mourn the death of a most distinguished pioneering ron, in the person of Mr Norman Finlayson. of Maungaluroto. Deceased was a man of outstanding character, uprigh.. conscientious, and always vigilant in furthering the interests of his district, whether it were in pastoral progress. local body administration. national politics or sport. The son of the late Mr John Finlayson. one of the original migrants from Nova Scotia. deceased was born at Waipu 79 years ago. his sole surviving brother. Mr J. J. Finlayson. venerable Chief of the Caledonian Society, being (he first white boy born in the settlement. The late Mr Norman Finlayson was educated at Waipu, and. as a young man. became well-known as a bush contractor on the Northern Wairoa, before his marriage to Annie McInnes, daughter of the late Mr Owen Mdnnes, of North River, Waipu. Mr Finlayson then took up a * large block of land at Maungaturoto. which he farmed successfully for 50 years.

Varied Interests. Almost continuously between 1908 and his retirement last year he was a director of the Maungaturoto Dairy Company. Throughout that long period he retained the respect of his codirectors and the staff, and was most popular with all suppliers. His great desire always was to help struggling suppliers, and his efforts on their behalf and on behalf of the company generally were highly appreciated. Everything of any importance in the district had bis unfailing support and assistance. For several years he was a member of the Otamatea County Council, and at the time of his death was sitting member of the Marsdcn Licensing Committee, on which he had served with integrity and distinction over a very long period. Mr Finlayson was a member of the old North Auckland Hospital Board and subsequently of the Kaipara Hospital Board. One of the founders of the Maungaturoto Presbyterian Church, he was senior elder at the time of his death.

In politics, Mr Finlayson was a staunch supporter of the Reform Party under the late Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey and under the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates. Latterly he had been prominently associated with the National Party.

Fmv Rugby Tradition.

An enthusiastic follower of the national game, Mr Finlayson established a record for New Zealand by holding the office of either president or patron of the Otamatea Rugby Union for 34 years consecutively. He was regarded as the G.O.M. of. Otamatea football, and his influence on the sport in that county is stiil reflected in the high sportsmanship of the players of today.

| Mr Finlayson must nave been highj ly gratified m the notable playing rc- ■ cord built up b% r his own family la i Rugby. Innis ("Bunny”) was recog- ( nlsed as one of the greatest All Black i forwards in the last decade. Three | sons—Tote, Jack and Bain—representj ed New Zealand army teams in PalesI tine, while Tote and Angus have also ; played for Auckland Province, and i Malcolm for Otago. Bain, Tote and ' "Bunny” stepped out with the first j North Auckland representative team, , and Jack, Stewart and Dan have ari i sisted Otamatea.

Deceased was also keenly interested in horse-racing. He was one of the founders and an early president of the Maungaturcto Bowling Club. At the time of his death he was president of the Maungaturoto Sports Club.

In recognition of his distinguished i public service, Mr Finlayson was 1 made a recipient of the King's Ccron- } alien Medal. His three eldest sons all saw active ! service, while another was in camp j when hostilities ceased. Surviving are the widow, eight I sons —Jack (Mangapai). Bain (Manga- | pai). Owen. ‘Tote” (Pipiwai). Stewart i (Waikiekic). Times (Pipiwai), Mal- ! colm (Otago), Angus (Auckland) and | Dan (Maungaturoto)—and one daugh- ‘ ter. Mrs C. McGregor (Parua Bay). 1 The funeral will leave the residence, ! Maungaturoto, for Maungaturoto i Cemetery at 1 .BO p.m. on June 13.