OBITUARY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22391, 12 October 1934, Page 9

OBITUARY

MR E. V. RIDDIFORD(SpeciaI to Daily Times.) WELLINGTON, October 11. Private advice was received in Wellington to-night of the death at ee» this morning of Mr Edward Vivian Riddiford, of “ Glenburn ” and “ Tablelands.” Mr Riddiford was returning from a trip to England as a passenger in the Rangitiki, which is due at Auckland on October 24, and was accompanied by his wife and his daughter Pamela. One of the Dominion’s bestknown and most successful pastoralists, Mr Riddiford, whose home is at Woburn, Lower Hutt, was equally prominent in racing circles. He was a notable participanLam) an enthusiast, being one of a family whose turf associations are part of the history of the sport in this country. But apart from his activities as a pastofalist, racehorse owner and breeder, Mr Riddiford was h widelyknown and popular citizen, a sportsman in the fullest sense who played a large part in the social life of the community, and whose allegiance to racing did not overshadow his interest in golf and lawn tennis, the two pastimes with which he was, most prominently identified. Beginning as a cadet on his father’s properties, he had a long and successful career as a sheep farmer, first as estate manager and afterwards as an owner.

Mr Riddiford was 55 years of age. He was born at Low'er Hutt, being a son of the late Mr E. J. Riddiford and a grandson of one of New Zealand’s earliest pioneers, Mr Daniel Riddiford, who arrived in New Zealand in 1840. Mr Riddiford was educated at Wanganui Collegiate School and began his career as a sheep farmer on his father’s property, “Te Awaiti,” Wairarapa. Later Mr Riddiford managed his father’s properties, including “ Longburn ” and “ Cheltenham.” Mr E. J. Riddiford died in 1911, and Mr Vivian Riddiford took over “ Glenburn,” a sheep and cattle run on the East Coast, “ Tablelands,” a Romney Marsh sheep stud in the Wairarapa, and “ Brentwood,” the noted Trentham racing stud. In 1908 he was married to Miss Zoe Thorne George, third daughter of Mr Seymour Thorne George, of Auckland. Their two daughters are Mrs J. Vogel, of Lower Hutt, and Miss Pamela Riddiford. Mr brother, Mr Eric Riddiford, owner of the Orongorongo station, where he resides, was his partner in a remarkably successful racing career, during which they won a large number of the principal handicap races in New Zealand, including the New Zealand Cup, the Auckland Cup and the Grand National. On his own account Mr Riddiford was the holder of the Wellington Cup, the Mitchelson Cup and other coveted racing trophies. Early in 1932 Mr Riddiford retired from active participation in racing. A prominent clubman, Mr Riddiford was a member ,of the Wellington Club, the Wellesley Club, the Northern Club (Auckland), the Christchurch Club, the Boodles Club (London) and the Princes Club (London). He was also a member of the Wellington and Lower Hutt Golf Clubs. MRS T. H. RUSSELL The death of Mrs T. H. Russell, of “Lime Kiln Farm,” Milburn, which occurred on Wednesday evening, has caused another break in the small remaining number of early residents of the district. Born at “ Shandfield,” Otokia, Mrs Russell was the eldest daughter of the late Mr Alexander Fleming, a wellknown South Taieri farmer, and native of Drumturk, Perthshire, Scotland. She attended the old Greytown (Allanton) and Otokia Schools and the .Albany Street School, Dunedin, and after her marriage to Mr T. H. Russell they took over the Lime Kiln homestead property of the late Mr James M'Donald and had resided there for the past 45 years. The deceased lady was widely known for -her kindness and hospitality. She took a great interest-in the affairs of the church, at which she was a regular attender until failing health overtook her. Besides het husband she leaves a family of one son' and three daughters — Mr A. E. Russell (Balclutha), Dr Mary Russell (London), Mrs J. A. Read (Balelutha), and Miss Veda Russell (Milburn). A younger son, Mr Fleming Russell, was killed in a motor accident at Berwick in 1920. Of her father’s family of eight, two brothers and one sister survive, these being Mr D. T. Fleming (Balclutha), Mr A. P. Fleming (Otokia), and Mr J. H. Hudson (Ekitahuna). MR ALEXANDER ROBERTSON The death occurred at Invercargill on Tuesday of Mr Alexander Robertson, at the age of 73 years. Mr Robertson’s parents, Mr and Mrs Duncan Robertson, of Alexandra, were, a noted pioneer couple, his father being one of the first sheep drovers in Otago, and subsequently owner of the Balmoral Hotel at Manuherikia Crossing, later known as Robertson’s Crossing. Born at Alexandra, Mr Robertson could be numbered among the Dominion’s earliest pioneers. He received his primary education at the Alexandra School, being one of the first pupils there. After leaving school, he took up farming at Herbert, where he married a local resident, Miss Christina Cameron, at the age of 21. Miss Cameron was a granddaughter of Mrs John Kelly, the first white woman to settle in Invercargill. Leaving Herbert about the beginning of this century, Mr and Mrs Robertson took up residence iii Ravensbourne, where Mr Robertson was employed as storeman by Messrs Wright, Stephenson and Co. After 12 years’ residence there, Mr Robertson resumed farming for a short period at Woodlands. He then went to Invercargill to take up employment first with Messrs Wright, Stephenson and Co., and then with the Southland Farmers’ Cooperative Association. He was head storeman with the latter firm for 21 years, retiring through ill-health only six l months ago. He was a man of sterling character and was possessed of a happy, even disposition, which he re-tained-to the end. In'addition to his widow, Mr Robertson is survived by. a family of six—three daughters and three sons. SISTER LIGUORI (Peb United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, October 11. The death occurred at Mount Magdala Home on Tuesday of Sister M. J. St. Liguori, who had been doing works of charity in Christchurch for 25 years. She was born in Dunedin, and was a daughter of Mr J. A. M'Grath, who later became an inspector of police.