OBITUARY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21258, 12 February 1931, Page 9

OBITUARY

MR HENRY WILLIAM POTTS. WRITER ON RURAL SUBJECTS. (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) SYDNEY, February 11. _ The death is announced at Innisfail (Queensland) of Mr Henry William Potts, a former principal of the Hawkesbury Agricultural College and a prolific writer on rural subjects. He was latterly Commissioner for Malta. He was 76 years of age. MR JOHN REAY. Mr John Eeay, who died at Auckland on Monday, was born on. June 28, 1839. and arrived in Dunedin in ISG2 by the Akbar Chief, having left St. Catherine’s dock on January 1, and reached New Zealand three months later. He joined the party which was surveying Otago Peninsula, Hillend, and Adams Flat, eventually going into the Gatlins Bush about 1863. The party had at its head Mr Adams, who eventually became Chief Surveyor-general. This party surveyed the first township in Gatlins, which was situated at the mouth of Sweetwater Creek, in which the timber schooners used to lie waiting for the tide to get up the Owaka River. The township was named Newhaven, and only one section was ever disposed of. Mr Reay and the late Mr Glasgow Logan cut the first track through from Ahuriri Flat to Owaka, which came down what was known as Dutton’s Hill, almost in a line with the main Owaka bridge from Balclutha. Mr Reay recollected bringing his first cows through fi om Warepa on this track. Originally Mr Reay took up 100 acres, on which were built the first school, post office, Presbyterian Church and manse, and Messrs Dabinett and Young’s store —all of which when the railway came through were hauled down intact or removed in sections to the present township. Mr Reay left Owaka some 35 years ago for the North -Island, and farmed in different parts with great success. At the time of his death he resided in Mount Albert, Auckland. At the age of 90 years he could still read without his glasses, and he took a keen interest in things of the day, both political and social. With the exception of Mr William Reay, of Waronui, Milton, and the late Mr Ernest Reay, who gave his life in the Groat War, dying at sea, the rest of the family (two sons and two daughters) arc resident in the North Island.