OBITUARY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22051, 6 September 1933, Page 7

OBITUARY

MR R. S. CHARTERS The. death occurred in Dunedin on Monday night of Mr Robert Shennan Charters, of Green Vale Station, Waikaia. Mr Charters was born in the State of Illinois, United States of America, in 1857. Through his mother he was connected with one of the most prominent pastoral families in Otago. He was the'elder son of the late Mr Robert Charters, who before he emigrated to North America from Scotland married Miss .Tanc Shennan, a member of the highly-respected family, the Shcnnans of Balig, in Kirkcudbrightshire. Two of Mrs Charters's brothers, Mr Watson Shennan, of the Pnketoi Station, Haniototo County, and the Conical Hills Estate, Waipahi, and Mr John Shennan, of Berwick, were noted pastoralists in Otago, and a third brother, Mr David Shennan, made his fortune in the Argentine, where he was one of the foremost of the Britisn pioneers in the development of the immense pastoral resources of that great republic. Mr Watson Shennan lived in Dunedin latterly, but to the last he re-

tained Puketoi Station, which still remains in the family. Mr Charters's parents did not remain long in the United States. When he was five years old they returned to Scotland, and from there set out for Otago, arriving in the sailing ship Bombay in the early 'sixties. Mr Charters, sen., at once entered into partnership with his brother-in-law, Mr John Shennan, in a cattle station at Waipori, the property being that which is now held by Messrs Cotton Bros., whose father purchased it from the partners. After the disposal of this run Mr Charters acquired a property at East Taieri, which he named Ury Park, the farm later becoming known as one of the best-managed properties on the fertile Taieri Plains. It was renowned as a stud farm, and the reputation of its purebred Ayrshire cattle and Clydesdale horses was more than provincial. Perhaps the most famous sire in the Clydesdale stud of Mr Charters was the well-known horse Royal Charter, out of the imported mare Polly, which was later acquired by Mr J. F. Kitching, of Moa Flat Estate, Heript.

Mr Robert Shennan Charters was educated at the East Taieri and North Taieri Schools, and at the close of his school days commenced his farm training under his father at Ury Park, where he remained until 1878, when he took over the management of the Conical Hills Estate, a property of 14,000 acres, which grazed one of the finest flocks of crossbred sheep in South Otago, as well as select flocks of Corriedale, Romney Marsh and Border Leicester sheep. After two years at Conical Hills Mr Charters was appointed by his uncle, Mr Watson Shennan, to the position of manager of the Puketoi Station, which was one of the greatest pastoral stations of Otago at that time. The Puketoi merino flock was one of the most famous in New Zealand, a proud position which it holds to this day under the control of Mrs Watson Shennan. Mr Charters spent 18 years at Puketoi before he became the owner of a very valuable property in the same district, a portion of the old Maniototo Station, which he purchased from Messrs Hambly Bros. He remained only two years on this property, disposing of it to the late Mr John Fenton, of! Gimmerburn. Three years later he acquired, from Mr J. A. M'Lean, the well-known Greenvale Station in the Waikaia district. Here he built up a flock of Corriedale sheep which to-day, with lambs, numbers nearly 19,000 head. The stud has flourished under Mr Charters's management and is noted for the quality and weight of the wool it produces. For many years Mr Charters had beea recognised as one of the foremost breeders and judges of fine-wooled sheep in the Dominion, merinos, Corriedales and halfbreds making up his specialty. Until illness overtook him his services were in constant demand, for judging at all the leading agricultural shows in the country. At the Royal Agricultural Society's shows he was a frequent judge, and he officiated at the Canterbury Metropolitan Show, the greatest sheep show in New Zealand and one of the greatest in. the world, the Otago Metropolitan Show, and most of the more important fixtures in both islands. He was considered an exceptionally sound judge, in respect of both the wool and meat-producing qualities of sheep. In 1900 Mr Charters married Miss Annie Forsyth Mollison, third daughter of the late Mr Alexander Mollison, of Egmont, Roslyn, who predeceased him several years ago. He leaves a family of two daughters, Mrs Stuart Scoular, of Napier, and Mrs Arthur L. Bennett, of Christchurch, and one son, Mr Robert Gordon Charters, of Glenlapa Station, near Freshford, Southland.

MR A. SAUNDERS

There passed away at the Owaka Hospital on Friday last one of the best known and most highly respected of Owaka residents in the person of Mr Alexander Saunders. Mr Saunders had readied the advanced age of 77 years, of which 68 were spent at Owaka. He was the second son of Captain Sinwtn Saunders, a master navigator, and was born at Emerald Hill, Victoria, in 1856, this place also being the birthplace of the late Sir Joseph Ward, who was born in the same week. In 1861 the family ciime to Duncdin on the ship Success, which was owned by Captain Saunders. It was in Dunedin, where the family remained for four years, that the deceased received the first part of his education at Mr Shaw's school in Albany street, where Sir Robert Stout was then an assistant teacher. Captain Saunders, after visiting the Catlins district, decided to settle there, and in 1865 the family arrived at their new home, a block of land adjacent to the Owaka township which ip still in the possession of the family. At that time there were only five families in the district, which was practically all covered with bush. After three years at Owaka, Captain Saunders once more resumed a seafaring life, and in 1885 his ship was lost with all hands in the China Sea. Mr Saunders was then 29 years of age and was already prominent in all local organisations. When 20 years of age he was a member of the local road board that rendered invaluable service in opening up the district for settlement. In 1599 he was elected to the Clutha County Council as member for the Catlins riding, which he represented continuously for 12 years, being chairman for one term. He also

represented the Clutha County Council on the Otago Hospital and Charitable Aid Board for a term. He was a member of the local School Committee for many years and was chairman at various times. For the past 16 years he was chairman of - the Owaka Cemetery Trustees, and for 30 years he rendered considerable service to the district as a justice of*the peace. Mr Saunders is survived by his widow, a daughter, and two sons, all of whom reside at Owaka, and a younger brother, Mr William Sounders, of Auckland. The funeral took place at the Owaka Cemetery on Sunday, where a large gathering of friends from all parts of the district was present. The service at the graveside was conducted Wit Ham Falconer.