CLINTON.

Otago Witness, Issue 2413, 31 May 1900, Page 29

CLINTON.

May 2S. —Mr George Steel, a well-known farmer at Waii-'.uia. died there on Tuesday lastweck.2s.Mr Steel had been in failing health for some time, so that his death was net UOr

expected. We sometimes hear people spoken 1 of as old identities, but Mr Steel was more than this, for he was far and away our oldest lesident. He came here in the early fifties in company with Mr Gordon Rich, the first runliolder in this locality. Mr Steel was shepherd and manager for. Mr Rich during all the time he held the Wairuna run. In 1860 or 1861 this run was sold to Mr Clapcott, who held the adjacent- Popotmioa- estate, and the two Were worked as one run. Mr Steel bought the pre-emptive right, and lias lived on ft ever since. Some years ago Mr Steel' was known as a breeder oi shorthorn cattle and Leicester sheep, and took many a prize at the shows. (He was a lay reader of xhe Church of England, and it was very much 1 through his exertions that we have a, church of England an our locality. The first church was at AVairuna, 'Taut a good, many years ago a church . was '■erected at Clinton. Mr Steel leaves a grownup family of sons and daughters. The service ' at the English Church on Sunday evening- was very impressive. A solo by Mr W. J. Styles, "He wipes the tear from every eye," was sung in a manner that visibly affected the congregation.