PASSING OF A WELL-KNOWN

Otago Witness, Issue 3382, 8 January 1919, Page 38

PASSING OF A WELL-KNOWN

FAMILY. THE RUTHERFORDS OF AMURL A recent telegram from Christchurch announced the death of Mr George Rutherford, who only survived his brother, Mr A. W. Rutherford, by a few weeks. During the past year death has practically wiped out one generation of one of the bestknown families in the Canterbury district, there being only Mr John Rutherford left out of a family of six brothers. The father of these men (says the Auckland Star) arrived in Canterbury with his six lads in the early sixties, and the Rutherford family has been associated with the history of Canterbury for over half a century. The father of this generation having come over from Australia in the early sixties, established himself in what was then the wilds of North Canterbury—the Amuri district—nearly 100 miles north of Christchurch, the only communication with which was bv means of bullock teams. He was one of the pioneers of the district, and took up a large tract of country, in the working of which he was assisted by his six stalwart eons, none- of whom stood under 6ft 3in. He established the well-known Leslie Hills Station, which after his death was carried on by Mr Duncan Rutherford, so well known for his philanthropic work in connection with the.war t which, however, he did not live to see the end of. Mr Rutherford, sen., established four of his sons in the district, and they were soon known amongst what were termed the "Amuri Wool Kingsl" The eldest son, Robert, died many years ago. The next son, Mr W. 0. Rutherford, who was known all over the dominion as a judge at dog trials, established himself on the Montrose Station, and died about 18 months ago, the estate being carried on by one of his sons. Mr Duncan Rutherford died about a year ago, and Leslie Hills has now passed into the hands of his son. Mr Andrew Rutherford, who for some time represented the Hurunui electorate in Parliament, died -during the epidemic, and was followed about 10 days after by his eldest son, who, at the time of his death, owned the Brookdale Estate, adjoining his father's property. Mendip Hills Estate has now fallen into the hands of a younger son. Mr George Rutherford, who has just died, for many years held the well-known Dalethorpe Estate, which he sold some time ago, purchasing the original Springbank ' Estate from the Chapman family, on which for the past few years he had devoted his attention to growing purebred stud sheep. His elder son, Mr G. L. Rutherford, has a very fine property at Harwarden, North Canterbury. The only member of the family left is Mr John Rutherford of Mount Nessing Estate, at Albury, South Canterbury. The namo of Rutherford has been a household word in Canterbury for more than 50 years, and the younger generation should have no difficulty in perpetuating it.. All the Rutherfords were keen judges of stock, and they were all r-rermred to pay the highest prices to get the best, imoorting some of the finest prize merinos from Tasmania as the foundations of. their fine wool flocks, and the keenest rivalry always existed between them at agricultural shoos, at which they were regular exhibitors. Nearly all the brothers owned racehorses, and all took a keen interest in the turf. Although bound up with the interests of Canterbury, it is quite safe to say that the family was known and respected in all parts of the dominion.