DEATH OF MR ROBERT GAWN.

Otago Witness, Issue 3280, 24 January 1917, Page 42

DEATH OF MR ROBERT GAWN.

I lii the .death of Mr Robert Gawn, of Deer Park, North Taicri. which took place on .Sunday, another link is severed between the present and the early days of the digging*, when big waggon teams were as familiar on the Main .South road as motor ears are to-day. The late Mr Robert Gawu was born in County Antrim, Ireland, 81 years ago, and eamo out to the colonies when 20 years of ago. lie made for Melbourne, where lie first act up as a waggoner, carting stores to the diggings, and doing a tittle farming as a side line. On the discovery of gold in Otago ho came to Dunedin, bringing with him all his horses, drays, and waggons from Victoria, together with a largo supply of horse feed, and started carting to the Dunstan. His first abode was on Caversham Rise, and. after a number of years there he came into Dunedin, taking over the old Moray Place Stables at the head of King street. A great many waggoners put up at the stables in those day's, and it was a sight to sec the waggons with their white tops drawn up in the yard, and the looschoxrs full of horses. At that time the late "Dob” Gawu had five or six waggon teams on the road. After 11 years of waggoning fiom Dunedin, he purchased Deer Park Farm at North Taieri, where ho resided up to the time of his death, and subsequently added to rim holding by purchasing Crossbill and Holmhead. adjoining farms to Door Park. As a breeder of Clydesdales he was well known throughout the Dominion, and he was one of the most successful exhibitors in Otago foi _ many years. Ho laid the foundation of In’s stud with the celebrated Clydesdale Lord Salisbury. which lie purchased from the late J. F. - K itching, of ‘ Mon Fiat: together with the imported mare Scotch Annie, and her •two daughters. Nellie Tvanhoe and Maggie Doll. No Dunedin or Taicd show for years was complete without the exhibition of Lord Salisbury, who retired from the ring

unbeaten champion. The late Robert (Sawn married Martha Ann MConnell, who came from, his native town in County Antrim. Ireland, and who predeceased him some six years ago. lie leaves three sons. (Mr Ton: Gawn, Holmhead, North Taicri; Mr W. I!. (Sawn. Crossbill, North Taicri; Air.lames Gawn, Merivale, llomahapa) and two daughters (Mrs Cullcn, of East Tnieri, and Mrs Findlay, of Duke's road. North Taicri) to mourn their loss. Of a hearty and genial disposition and a line personality, he was esteemed by all. and his death will be regretted by a large circle of friends, not alone oil the Taicri and in Dunodin, but by Irii uds scattered all over New Zealand.