OBITUARY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23006, 8 October 1936, Page 9

OBITUARY

MR WALTER BLACKIE One of the most notable figures of the Taieri district, Mr Walter Blackie, who had spent the greater part of his life in agricultural pursuits on the fertile plains, passed away at his residence, "Lochend," East Taieri, at an early hour yesterday morning. Mr Blackie, who was a son of Captain Blackie, was born in Caversham in February, 1853. He received his education at the East Taieri School and the Otago Boys' High School, and took a finishing course in agriculture at Lincoln College. He took up agriculture early in life and later inaugurated a road transport with teams and drays. Subsequently he devoted his energies to " Glasgow Farm." his father's property near Mosgiel, and made it the model farm of the district, securing the coveted honour awarded by the Otago A. and P Society for the best-managed farm Mr Blackie was the first to exhibit the products of one farm and household in Dunedin—the forerunner of

the " county bays" at the Otago A. and P. Society's Winter Shows of 30 or 35 years ago. He was always in the forefront of his contemporaries in keeping his farming methods up to date, and 1 was the first in the district to establish a butter factory in conjunction with his farming operations. The products of " Glasgow Farm" could always be relied on for quality and quantity He also developed a business of considerable extent in the supply of farm produce to the merchants and consumers in Dunedin, and his threshing and chaff-cutting plants were well known on the Taieri. Mr Blackie was a prominent and successful exhibitor of stock and farm produce at the agricultural shows of Otago. He was also in much request as a judge of stock and produce and officiated in that capacity for many years*at Otago and Southland shows. About the year .1900 Mr Blackie joined with two neighbouring farmers in a visit to the Homeland, and, combining business with pleasure, brought back with him some pedigree stock, which resulted in the improvement of the breed of draught horses on the Taieri and elsewhere. '..'.'"'.'. The call of public affairs met with a favourable response from Mr Blackie, and in 1902 he was elected as member for East Taieri 'riding on the Taieri County Council, retaining this position in each succeeding triennial election, unopposed, with one exception, till he retired a few years ago. His record through the years proved his good practical judgment in several directions. He was the first councillor to recommend the judicious use of suitable blinding material for newly-metalled roads, and he persisted in his efforts until it was tried and proved to be satisfactory and a great improvement in the general maintenance of the road. No distance was too far, nor any hour too late, foi his presence on county business and his attendances at the monthly meetings of the council were practically 100 per cent. Mr Blackie in his youth drove the steam engine which supplied the power for the stone crushing plant when the Main South road through the Taieri was first metalled, little thinking that later in life he would take part in the deliberations which resulted in the same section of road being paved with bituminous concrete. Apart from county affairs Mr Blackie represented Mosgiel and the Taieri on the Otago Hospital Board for several years, and under a later regime he was elected a co-optive member, and was practical adviser to the board on the farming operations at, the sanatorium near Palmerston. In 1922 Mr Blackie was chosen by the Ministry as a Government representative on the Taieri River Trust, a position which his long and wide experience in local body work and practical knowledge of flood conditions on the Taieri well fitted him to fill. No one was more helpful and energetic in promoting social functions or friendly gatherings than Mr Blackie. While always ready to take part in song or story himself, he had a circle of friends to call on for support, and some of the happiest and most enjoyable evenings were those in which short notice calls were made, with little time for preparation. Many districts in the Taieri will recall these oldtime gatherings which served to break the monotony of country life, and, needless to say. the songs which appealed most to him were the lyrics of the land of his forbears. In 1875 he married Miss Grace Steele, and there were five sons and three daughters from the marriage. One son, Mr William Blackie, succeeded his father at " Glasgow Farm " when Mr Blackie transferred his residence to "Lochend Farm.' Several years after the death of his first wife, Mr Blackie married Mrs Betsie Bewes, who, with four sons and one daughter, survives him. MR FRANK FRANKLIN HOCKLY <Peb United Press Association! AUCKLAND, Oct. 7. The death of Mr Frank Franklin Hockly, the first member of Parliament for the Rotorua constituency, has occurred at Auckland; aged 71 years. Mr Hockly was elected for Rotorua when it became a constituency in 1919. and represented it until 1928.