OBITUARY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21213, 19 December 1930, Page 11

OBITUARY

MR C. A. DE LATOUR. A life full of service to the community closed with the death at Gisborne on Monday (says The Auckland Star) of Mr Cecil Albert de Latour at the advanced age of 85 years. Mr de Latour was bom in India in 1845, being a son of che late Mr Edward de Latour, judge of the High Court in Calcutta. He was educated at Cheltenham College, England, and although he was intended for the army his eyes were turned to the colonies. After gaining pastoral experience on nis uncle’s farm in Calvine, he left England in the War Spirit on March 10, 1863, to see no land for 120 days, when the northern end of New Zealand was sighted. Landing at Auckland, Mr de Latour went to Central Otago to the property of Mr John Douglas. He was five years on a station near Naseby, and then took up land for himself at Mount Ida. He married a daughter of Mr and Mrs Robert Bust, of Oamafu. An accident caused Mr de Latour to abandon life in the country, and he secured a half-share In the Mount Ida Chronicle. While reporting cases in the district court he was given the opportunity to follow a course of reading in law'. With Mr James Olliver, he won the Mount Ida seats on the Otago Provincial Council against Messrs J. P. Armstrong and D. H. Mcrvyn. After the dissolution of the Provincial Governments ne represented his. electorate in the House of Representatives as a Liberal through three Par? liaments over a period of eight years'. In politics he was closely associated with the late Sir Robert Stout. He was also a member of the first National Education Board in Otago. Early in 1878 Mr de Latour moved to Napier, still holding his seat os member for Mount Ida, and entered the legal office of the late Mr W. L. Rees. Mr de Latour passed his legal examinations in three years, but w r as refused admission to the Bar in view of the fact that he was a member of the Legislature during the time he had been articled. However, an amendment to the Law Practitioners Act paved the way for a successful application shortly afterwards, and he took up practice in Gisborne in 1882. Mr de Latour resigned, the Mount Ida scat in 1883, and afterwards contested the Auckland West constituency against the late Mr Thomas Peacock, but was not returned. Ten years later Mr de Latour fought unsuccessfully the Waiapu seat against the late Sir James Carroll. When the Gisborne Sheep Farmers’ Company was established in 1002 Mr de Latour was elected the first chairman of directors, which position he held until 1922. He was also president for some years of the North Island Freezing Companies’ Association. During his life in Gisborne he was twice Mayor of the town, and for 25 years he was the Government representative on the Gisborne High School Board of Governors. A little over a year ago he paid a visit to the Old Country. MRS C. SALISBURY. The death occurred recently at Palmerston North of Mrs C. Salisbury, at the age of 50 years. Mrs Salisbury was born in Gippsland, New South Wales, and after her marriage removed to Dunedin, w'here the family resided for a number of years prior to taking up their residence in Palmerston North. Although of a retiring disposition, the deceased lady was known to a wide circle of friends who will regret to learn of her sudden demise. Those left to mourn their loss arc two daughters, Misses Irene and Ethel Salisbury, of Palmerston North, and one sister and two brothers, Miss E. C. Bartlett and Mr H, Bartlett, Western Australia, and Mr J. Bartlett, Victoria.