OBITUARY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7392, 21 March 1911, Page 8

OBITUARY

ME THOMAS BALLANTYNE.

SPSCIAT* TO THE ** TIMES." CHRISTCHURCH, March 20.

Mr Thomas Ballantyne, who was a familiar figure in tho Kaiapoi and Rangiora districts for a great many \-ears, died at the Christchurch Hospital on Saturday. Mr Ballantyne was born in Londonderry ia *lBlO, and belonged to a well-known family, a member of which was Lord Mhyor of the city a short lime ago. At tho age of twenty-one Air Ballantyne emigrated to -Melbourne, and tor a year was gold-mining at Beechworth. Ho then left for the West Coast of New Zealand, being attracted by tho gold discoveries. Alter spending some time in gold-digging he, with four others, took a contract to make what was known as tlie Big Dam at Kumara. It was whilst this contract was in progress that the late Prime Minister, the Hon. E. J. Seddon, arrived on the Coast, and Mr Ballantyne was able to claim the honour of having given him his first work on New Zealand soil. An uncle of Air Seddon’s wont to Mr Ballanlyno and said he had a young nephew, just arrived, who wanted employment. Air Ballantyne told him to send the youngster along, and it was not long before Mr Seddon was at work with the shovel with a vigour that won the approbation of his employer. In fact, Air Ballantyne was wont to say that he never had a better workman in all his lone experience. A warm friendship was formed between the two, and Air Seddon on his visits to North Canterbury never failed to look up his old friend. Recognising his sterling worth and his value as a workman of experience. Air Seddon more than once pressed him to accept a position. under- the Public Works Department, but he steadily refused, preferring to remain his own master. After six years on tho Coast Air Ballantyne came to Canterbury, and being an expert in* concrete work he at one time or another was employed by every local body in North Canterbury in the construction of concrete bridges and culverts.