OBITUARY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22367, 14 September 1934, Page 9

OBITUARY

SIR JOHN ROBERTS The death occurred at his residence in Littlebourne last evening of Sir John Roberts. Full of years and of honour in his native town of Selkirk and more particularly in the city of his adoption, Dunedin,, he laid down the burden of a long and active life at the advanced age of 88 years. For 06 years in a city and a province that are not yet 85 years old he was a prominent figure in qpmmercc and in public life. His interests were so wide and his influence so great that his passing takes on the character of a serious community loss, and his death will be mourned in almost every walk of life in the province in which he spent the best part of a lifetime. Though for some time before his death liis activities had been seriously curtailed by failing health, he was determined, like many great men before him, to die in harness, a fact which is strikingly illustrated by his presence on Tuesday last at the annual meeting of the Milburn Lime and Cement Company, of which he had been a director for 25 years and a shareholder since its formation in 1888, and he returned thanks for his re-election to the board. Sir John, who was born at Selkirk, Scotland, on October 30, 1845, was educated in his native place, at the Cheltenham Grammar School, the Queen Street Institution, Edinburgh, and the Edinburgh Academy. On leaving school in 1862, he took up employment in the establishment with which his father was

connected —the firm of George Roberts and Co., woollen manufacturers, Selkirk —and remained there for two years. Late in 1864 he came to Australia to study station management and the wool business, and was employed by Messrs John Sanderson and Co., of Melbourne. He spent four years with that firm, and during that time gained valuable knowledge which he utilised to good advantage in later years. He came to Dunedin in 1868, when the well-known and successful firm of Murray, Roberts, and Co. was established in this city. The Home partners in the firm were Messrs Sanderson, Murray, and Co. Success at once favoured the undertaking, and the firm gradually developed and expanded its scope until it is now one of the most prominent mercantile concerns in the Dominion, with headquarters in Wellington and branches in Dunedin, Gisborne, Napier, and Wanganui. Sir John Roberts was prominently identified with the progress of Dunedin and Otago ever since his arrival, and throughout a long and busy life rendered invaluable services for the welfare of the mercantile community and public institutions. Indeed, there were few citizens who held so many responsible appointments or who enjoyed such a large measure of public esteem and confidence.

In his younger days Sir John took a prominent part in public affairs, and served the community faithfully and, well for many years. He entered public life in 1874, when he represented Kaikorai in the Otago Provincial Council, holding the seat for two years. He was a member of the Taieri County Council for some 10 years, representing the Deep Stream Riding from 1878 till the close of 1888, with the exception of an interval in 1884, when he was absent from New Zealand. He was chairman of the council "for the greater part of his term of membership. The most important public movement with which Sir John Roberts was associated was the Dunedin and South Seas Exhibition, held in 1889 and 1890, and his work in connection with that venture will long be remembered. He became associated with the Exhibition movement in its earliest stages, and as president he succeeded by ability and untiring zeal in bringing the venture to a successful issue. Throughout the preliminary work in connection with the Exhibition, his excellent judgment and acknowledged business capacities brushed away many seeming obstacles, and his name and his confidence in the scheme won for the Exhibition the support of many who would otherwise have refrained from joining themselves as shareholders and exhibitors. Towards the end of the Exhibition the following sketch, which did only bare justice to the president, was published:— “ John Roberts, ‘ the man of iron,’ is the right man in the right place if ever-there was such a thing. Amongst all the leading. men of Dunedin not one could be found capable of playing, a leading part with greater dignity or greater effect. His tall, upright carriage, keen blue eyes, firm mouth, and square, resolute face all speak of a man born to command. No one can be kinder or more courteous, and no one can keep his eye more firmly fixed on the object in view despite all the mists of controversy. At a meeting his voice is seldom heard, but never disregarded. At the Exhibition he is the unseen power. . . . His kindly aid of that capital scheme for holding a New Zealand Exhibition in London is a more recent act, and his valuable support of such an admirable project for the advancement of our fair colony will serve but ns the coping stone to the arch of popular respect he has been steadily building since first he landed on these shores.” Sir John was elected Mayor of the city in 1889 without opposition, despite the fact that he had not previously served in the City Council, the honour being bestowed on him in accordance with the generally held conviction that it .was fitting that the president of the exhibition should also be the Mayor of the city. In recognition of the public services rendered by him at that time the Companionship of St. Michael and St. George was conferred on him in 1891. The additional honour of knighthood was bestowed upon him in 1920, and the announcement of it met with universal approval, as it was regarded as a recognition of a class of service which had not previously been adequately recognised in the Dominion — service which may be described as social in the sense that it was ungrudgingly rendered for the benefit of the whole community.

Despite the many calls upon him in con ncction with business affairs Sir Join was able to devote a good deal of time and energy to education matters, particularly in the higher branches. He was appointed to the University Council in 18S5, and retained his membership almost continuously until April 19, 1921, when he resigned. On August 5, 1912, he succeeded the Rev. Dr Cameron as vicechancellor, and held that position until he retired from the council. Some surprise and disappointment were expressed when he tendered his resignation. He stated that as he was well advanced in years he desired to relinquish some of the public positions which he had held for many years. The then chancellor (Dr Cameron), said he regretted exceedingly that Sir John had found it necessary to send in his resignation. He had always found Sir John eager to serve the University to the utmost of his power and moat pleasant in the discharge of "any duty laid upon him. No member of the council, Dr Cameron said, had served with more wholeheartedness, and his great business experience and ability had been of'the highest value on various occasions. Sir John had also served the council by hi* gifts, which again and again had greatly facilitated its work. Several other mem hors of the council spoke in a similai strain, and some of them suggested that Sir John should he asked to reconsidei his decision. Sir John said that while he appreciated the compliment of being asked to reconsider his decision he felt that he had done his share and that he should retire and make way for a younger man. In 1920 Sir John made a gift of £IOOO to the University of Otago as an endow-

ment for the promotion of original re* search in medicine. This carried a Government subsidy of £IOOO. Sir John was a member of the Otag® Harbour Board for two holding a seat on that body from 18§3 till 1885. As mentioned > above Sir , John Roberta migrated to the colonies to study, the wool business, and the Mosgiel Woollen Factory Company, which commenced operations more than 60 years ago, must bo considered fortunate in having had a man with such expert knowledge as he possessed at the head of for such a lengthy period. Sir John was appointed chairman of director® when the company was formed, and held that position till the present timgr-a remarkable record in the history of any company, and one that is unique in the commercial life of the Empire. Another business concern with which Sir John was associated as a director from its inception was the Trustee*, Executors, and Agency Company, on the board of which he held a seat continuously from the first directors’ meeting, which was held in the early ’eighties. The bulk of the credit for the inauguration of the frozen ■ meat industry in New Zealand is ungrudgingly given to Mr Thomas Brydone, whose efforts were, however, ably supported by several of the leading, men in the commercial world of the day. The step was a very bold one, considering the length of the voyage required in those days, and those who undertook the venture were possessed of courage and optimism of. the highest degree. They, were far-seeing men, and their confidence was justified by the success which attended their effort. From a modest beginning the industry progressed by leaps and bounds, and for many years it has been one of the principal sources of the Dominion’s prosperity. Sir John Roberts was one of those who were quick to perceive the potentialities of the frozen meat trade, and he was one of the earliest to ally himself with the movement for export. He was one of the original directors of the New Zealand Refrigerating Company, which . was the . pioneer company of its kind in New Zealand. Its formation was the outcome of a series of meetings held in Dunedin in 1881, and the well-known premises associated with the name of the company were erected in the following year. For many years Sir John Roberts took a leading part in the control of the company, and for a time he was chairman of directors, but shortly after the company joined forces with the Christchurch Meat Company, and the -head quarters were removed to Christchurch he retired owing to the impossibility of his regular attendance at meetings of the board. No doubt he derived a great deal of satisfaction from his association with, and he certainly earned the gratitude of the people of New Zealand as a whole for his courageous support of. a movement which was destined to be of such value to the country. It . will have been a. matter of some satisfaction to him when the ’ company resumed its original name arid became known again as'the New Zealand Refrigerating Company. All the others who were associated with Sir John in the inauguration of the company passed away several years ago. Sir John was one of the shareholders in the Milburn Lime and Cement Company at the time of its formation in 1888, and it is interesting to note that he, regarded the prospects of the company so favourably that he induced a brother in Scotland to become a shareholder. Sir John joined the directorate over 25 years ago, and was a member of the board continuously from that time. For a long period of year* the name of Sir John Roberts was closely associated with the progress of the Union Steam Ship Company, which started in a very small way in 1875, but expanded with remarkable success until it became one of the outstanding shipping companies in the world. Sir John joined the board of directors over 30 years ago, filled the position of acting chairman of directors for many years, and subsequently became its chairman. Owing to advancing years and his disinclination to travel to Wellington to its meetings, he retired from this board in 1932.

The foregoing list of activities, superimposed on the control of extensive business interests, would indicate a very busy life for the average man, but not so for Sir John Roberts, who seemed to derive the_ greatest measure of happiness from assisting to advance the welfare of Dunedin from a mercantile point of view or serving the people with the social wellbeing in view. In addition, to filling the numerous offices mentioned above, he acted as one of the local advisers of the Mutual Life Association of. Victoria, was a member of the Otago Cattle, Board during its existence, was for many years a director of the Dunedin Sale Yards Company and of the New Zealand Hardware Company, and for about two years a director of the Colonial Bank, from which position he retired in 1891. He joined the directorate of Donaghy’s Rope and Twine Company in February, 1914. and retained a seat on it for the rest of his life. ■

Still another organisation which received the hearty support of Sir .John was the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce. The first chamber came into existence in the latter part of 1861, and, as far a* can be gathered from the records, h« joined it about 1878. He served on the committee from 1879 till 1882.

One of the things nearest and dearest to the heart of Sir John was the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Society, for the advancement of which he was a most zealous worker for more than 50 years. The society was formed on December’ 19, 1876, on which day an exhibition of fat stock was held on the Caledonian Ground, but its foundations were really laid on April 13 of the same year, when a meeting was held in the Criterion Hotel for the purpose of promoting a Christmas fat stock exhibition. That riieeting was attended by 11 men, and Sir John Roberts was appointed chairman and elected a member of a working committee which was formed. At a meeting in Wain’s Hotel oh the evening of Show Day it was decided, on the motion of Sir John, seconded by Mr J. F. Hitching, -that an agricultural and pastoral society be formed. Having turned his hand to the plough, so to speak, Sir John, never thought of turning back, and thanks to his efforts and those of the men tassociated with him over such a long period, the Agricultural and Pastoral Society has done wonderful work for the community. Sir John was one of the enthusiasts who had sufficient foresight to realise that exhibitions of stock and other primary products were the surest means of raising the standard, thereby ensuring an addition to the national wealth. The name of John Roberts appeared amongst the list of office-bearers of the society with unfailing regularity for many years, and he held the presidency in 1879, 1883, 1887, and 1895, while he was vice-president iri 1880 and 1880. Sir John had the honour of, formally; opening the first Winter Show in Dunedin on June 7. 1894, thus inaugurating a fixture which is now recognised ns one of the outstanding features in the life of .the province. Ever since that meeting on April 13, 1876, Sir John Roberts was one tof . the .stalwarts of the society, and his name will go down to posterity as one of the greatest friends the primary producers ever had, inasmuch as he helped to put them on the' track to building up to the highest standard attainable. In 1896 five members of the society—Thomas Brydone, George Gray Russell, John Roberts, William Patrick. and Robert Charters—were singled out for the highest honour the A. and P. Society could bestow upon them—the office of lifb govenier, Fot some years Sir John Roberts was the only one to enjov that distinction, the others having passed away. Right up till the end of his life Sir John took the keenest interest in the welfare of the society, and, though advanced age necessitated a slowing down, he always set a worthy example to the other meinbers. In late years Sir John seldom ventured out at night, but his love, for the A. and P. Society was so keen that, making an exception in its favour, he rarely failed to put in an appearance at its meetings. :

It is safe to say that one of the happiest days in the life of Sir John and Lady Roberts was December 22, 1921, for on that day the Louisa Roberts Hospital in Middleinarch was officially opened. The establishment of this institution, which, is of inestimable value to a large district, was only one of many .manifestations of the venerable couple's desire to do good for the community even at considerable costto thetnselves. This hospital, which was the gift of Sir John and Lady Roberts to the district, was formerly a Salvation Army home for children. It was a large building, containing 12 or more big' rooms. At the.official opening, Mr A. F. Quelqh, who represented the Otago Hospital Board, stated that until some time before that the Government had always required a district to provide half the amount required for a hospital. Had that still been required he was afraid they would not have been opening the hospital that day. The fact that they were doing so was due to the* generosity of Sir John Roberts, who had given the money to enable them to purchase the building and turn it .into *■

splendid hospital, which -wag one of the first to have maternity wards attached. Mr W. E. S. Knight (chairman of tha Hospital Board) said that when the question of a hospital was under consideration Sir John Roberts had intimated that the property could be purchased at a certain figure and that he would provide sufficient money to enable the board, with the assistance of the Government subsidy, to acquire the building, as he. was■ anxious to leave some evidence of his long a*»ociaWori with the district. Sir John Roberts interested _ his one-time. partner (Mr John Sanderson) in the institution, and the latter made a giffof £l5O, which, with the Government subsidy, provided the necessary funds for equipment. Tha cdst of the hospital was £2003 18s 9d, plua the cost of the equipment and. alterations. In commemoration of the occasion the presentation of a leather blotter, tha handwork of soldiers, was made to Sir John Roberts on behalf of Lady Roberta, who was unfortunately prevented from attending owing'to the state of her health. The gift bore the following inscription:— “ Presented to Lady Roberts by the Otago Hospital Board on the occasion of tha official opening of the Louisa Robert* Hospital, Middlemarch.” , Sir John Roberts, who was decidedly ■ appreciative of the tribute paid to him and his wife, said lie believed that Lady Roberts wtt the first to make the suggestion' in regard to the hospital and that’he willingly agreed, ,as they wanted to leave something ■ that would : stand as a reminder of"the years they had spent in tha district. Nearly 50 years had elapsed ainca he first went to Strath-Taieri,, and thera had been very great changes since, then. . The name of Murray, Roberts, and Co. was for nearly half a century associated with Gladbrook, one of the . finest tuna in the interior of Otago. The owner* made a feature of the breeding of Aber-deen-Angus cattle,' and built: up a herd the reputation of which extended all river New Zealand and even further afield. About 1918 the run was sold to the Government for a returned soldiers’ settlement, and when the stock was s.old it was eagerly, competed for by buyers from near and far, several, purchases being mada by Australian breeders. On two occasions' Sir John Robert* waa selected by the Government to perform very important work on Royal Commissions. The first, was in 1900, when he was appointed_ to the commission which was charged with the responsibility of advising the Goveririent as to the desirability or otherwise of New Zealand federating with the Commonwealth of Australia and becoming a State under the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act, special regard being paid to the agricultural, commercial, and industrial interests of New Zealand, to the question of defence, to matters of a judicatory nature, to matters affecting Customs, railways, and postal arrangements, to matters affecting the public indebtedness of New Zealand and of the colonies in the Commonwealth, and in respect to the social and political bearing-of the question. The other members of the commission, which reported against federation were:—-Messr* A, Pitt (chairman), Harold Beauchamp, C. C. Bowen, T. W. Leys, C., M. Luke, J. A. Millar, William R. Russell, Walter Scott Reid, and Williapi Jukes' Steward. In 1915 Sir John was appointed to a commission which was set up to advise the Government on the question of the internment of alien enemy subjects. Sir John Roberts was the oldest officebearer in Knox Church, and since the death of Mr G. M. Thomson was the oldest living elder. He was inducted as a deacon in September, 1877, and. ordained as an elder in 1888. In November. 1882, the Presbytery of Dunedin having granted the request of Knox Church congregation to introduce the use of instrumental music, an Organ Committee was appointed with Sir John as convener. In 1884 the alterations to the church and the building of the organ were completed. The following reference to the change was made at a function held shortly afterwards:— “This brief . record, of the proceeding* which resulted in the introduction of instrumental music would be incomplete if ,no reference were made Jo the Invaluable services rendered to the congregation by the Organ Committee and particularly by the chairman, ,Mr John Roberts, C.M.G., to whose indefatigable energy ana sound judgment the, satisfactory completion of the undertaking was largely due.” Nearly seventy years after his departure from his native'town, of Selkirk, an unusual, tribute was paid to Sir, John Roberts in the .fact that the freedom of the borough was conferred on him in absentia. ■:

On January 26, 1870, Sir John Roberts married Louisa Jane Kettle, a daughter of Mr C, H. Kettle, who, as surveyor for the New Zealand Company, made the original; survey of Dunedin. They had a family of five eons and four daughters, all of whom are alive with the exception of one son... On, January 26, 1920, Sir John and £ady Roberts celebrated/their golden -wedding,' and on that occasion they received countless congratulations and expressions, of goodwill from all parts of New Zealand and also from overseas. There was a happy gathering of members of the family at their home in Littlebourne in the afternoon, and in the evening a dance was held in the Art Gallery Hall. The celebrations were attended by the four surviving sons and four daughters, their respective wives and husbands, another daughter-in-law, and 29 grandchildren, making no fewer than 46 family connections. ' Lady Roberts passed away in 1922. Two of the sons—Mr J. A. and Sir A. F.. Roberts —hold managerial positions at Dunedin and Wellington respectively in ' the firm. Messrs J. and C. H. Roberts, the two elder surviving sons, are managing partners of a woollen mill at Selkirk,, in Scotland. The eldest son, Mr George Roberts, who was an active manager in the business, died in 1903 after an operation for appendicitis. The four , i daughters, who, as well as the sons, are all married, are Mrs Menlove, of Athol; Mrs Hunter Weston, of Fairlie; Mrs Barron, of Napier; and Mrs Stead, of Hastings.