OBITUARY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20005, 24 January 1927, Page 8

OBITUARY.

THOMAS GRAY SCOULAR. The death occurred suddenly at Outram on Saturday of Mr Thomas Gray Scoular, for many years a member of thc_ firm ot Waters, Ritchie, and Co. The iate Mr Scoular, who was 50 years of age, was visiting Outram at tho time of his death. He was a son of Mr James Scoular, ot the firm of W. Scoular and Co. He was born and educated in Dunedin, and commenced his business career in the New Zealand Drug Company. Later he joined the firm of Messrs Waters, Ritchie, and Co. He leaves a widow and three children. ANDREW SMAILL JOHNSTON. The death was reported yesterday of Mr undrew Smaill Johnston, a well-known sharebroker in the city. Mr Johnston was found dead in his bed at his home at Burkes yesterday morning. HENRY DUNSTAN VAVASOUR. (Per United Press Association.) BLENHEIM, January 23. The death is reported of Henry Dunstan Vavasour, of Ugbrooke Station, one of Marlborough’s most highly esteemed citizens. The late Mr Vavasour had for auout 10 days been confined to his bed He was born at Hazlewood Castle, in Yorkshire, in 1850, and a few days ago celebrated his seventy-seventh birthday. He was a descendant of the Stourtons, who were noblemen of the Saxon kingdom hundreds of years before the conquest. The present head of the house is Lord Mowbrey of Segrave, and Lord Stourton is the premiefk baron of England. The late Mr Vavasour was the third son of Sir William Vavasour, one of New Zealand’s pioneers, being associated with the Cliffords and Sir Frederick Weld in sheep farming ventures.. Young Vavasour drove from Wellington to Warekaka Station, in the Wairarapa, with the first mob of sheep landed in New Zealand. The deceased gentleman was educated at Oscott College, near Birmingham, and later studied farming. In 1871 he came out to New Zealand, via America, and proceeded to Flaxbourne, and was engaged in sheep farming there for two years. In 1873 he was appointed temporary manager, and looked after the station for 18 months. He later took up land in Taranaki, where he resided till 1830. There he was chairman and secretary of the Tataraimaka Road Board, member of the New Plymouth Harbour Board, and member of the first Tannaki County Council. He was also secretary of the Agricultural Society. In 1860 Mr Vavasour came to Flaxbourne, where he was manager for 12 months, then he went to Southland and returned in 1882 as permanent manager of Flaxbourne, a position he held for 15 years. In 1897 he purchased part of the Vernon run and Ugbrooke, oiling the former subsequently. The late Mr Vavasour married in 1887 at Blenheim, Miss Bertha Mary Redwood, daughter of the late Thomas Redwood, of Burleigh, and niece of Archbishop Redwood. Of the 12 children the eldest son, George, was killed at Passchendaele, and the second son, Rollo. also died on active service in France. A daughter died at school in England. The surviving members of the family are Mrs lan Johnston (Wellington), Madame Vavasour of Sacred Heart Convent. Sydney, Mrs F. F. Reid, of Blenheim, Mr E. J. Vavasour, of Fairlie, Mr Francis N. Vavasour, of the Jesuit Seminary, P.oehampton (England), Gerald Vavasour, now in Canada, and Messrs S. H. H., John, and Philip Vavasour, of Ugbrooke. During his residence in Marlborough, the late Mr Vavasour had been associated with the following local bodies: —Awatere Rabbit Board, Awatere Road Board, Marlborough Racing Club (president 18 years), Marlborough Sheepowners’ Union (president 17 years). He also had been president of the Farmers’ Union and the Marlborough A. and P. Association. He was on the directorate of the Wairau Freezing Company, which initiated the frozen meat industry in Marlborough, and which was succeeded by the Christchurch Meat Company. He was appointed a iustice of tho peace in 1877, and held that commission till his death.