Obituary.

Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, Volume IX, Issue 427, 15 July 1913, Page 4

Obituary.

JOHN ROBERT MILLb.

By the death of Mr J. R. Mills at h home at Riverton on Saturday, 12th inst one of the most familiar and highly respect* of the few remaining old identities < Southland was removed. The deoease gentlemen, who is survived by his wife an a grqwn-up family of ten, of whom Iv! Fred Mills, of Riverton, and Mr Bert Mill of Otautau, are best known to us, has bee ailing for some time and his end was then fore not unexpected. Mr Mills, who was native of Tasmania, was at an early age c the gold-fields of Victoria. In 1856 1 oame over to Canterbury, and from there i the following year came on to Riverton wit which placo he has been associated ev< since, although his name is a household or throughout; Southland. In 1859 Mr Mil founded the auctioneering, land and core mission business at present carried on und< the title of J. R. Mills and Son, and hin self carried out the duties of auctioneer fc years, until failing health caused him to r< linquish the hammer to his son. The d( ceased gentleman, during his 56 ye«rs res dence m Riverton, took a very aotive ii terest m publio affairs, and served foi terms as Mayor of the Borough, while 1 held various positions of trust for sue bodies as the Western Distriot A. and 1 Association, Riverton Racing Club, eh He was a keen sportsman, and tiwrfosteri 1 of cricket at Riverton was entire Wvtic his interest, Mr Mills being tho firJcdapta of the old Riverton Crioket Cluo. Tl death of " Johnnie " Mills will bejflgrelte by a very large circle of friends <U_pughoi Southland, and especially by those of tl farming persuasion, to. whom he alsofirove a friend indeed m the time of trouble. H

integrity was, never doubted, bis word w» hia bond, arid hia family wiil have th sympathy of every man who oame int contact with him. Deoeased was buried the Riverton cemetery yesterday, the oo tege to the grave inoluding representetiv of every walk of life from all over Soutl and. Hia nee was 73 years.