OBITUARY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 18956, 5 March 1936, Page 15

OBITUARY

MR. JAMES CAMPION ' WELL-KN OWN FARMER Mr. James Campion, owner of Uie well-known Okirae station, died at Wanganui at the.age of 83 years. When his father died Mr. Campion took over responsibilities on the farm, Kauinai station, lower Rangitikei, where lie was born. Later he became manager of the Hilden estate, Feilding, then owned by his uncle, Mr. Fraser, and later the Hon. W. W. Johnston. Subsequently Mr. Campion managed the Aorangi estate for Messrs. J. and C. Bull, Feilding. In 1895 his ability to appreciate good stock was availed, of by the Wellington Meat Export Company, for whom he was appointed buyer.

Mr. Campion played a big part in developing New Zealand’s fat lamb trade and was one of the first and most ardent advocates of the Southdown Romneycross. His faith in the belief Of the quality. of that type of lamb to satisfy the British consumer has since been amply proved. He .was one to whom breeders arid farmers generally looked for advice, and later on he became a.director of hthe Wellington Meat Export Company, k position he held for many years. West, where he raised a Romney flock of exceptionally high stimdard. As evidence of the quality of the sheep lie bred tliere, it is recollected that at n dispersal sale, in 1905 the prices realised became a New Zealand record. Together with Messrs. T. A./ind William McC. A. Duncan in 1905 he bought Okirae station, near Kauangaroa. m the Wangachu Valley, near Wanganui, lie became sole owner subsequently and had resided there ever since. Okirae lias beeon.e one of New Zealand s noted sheep stations. ■Mr. Campion’s services were «rten availed of as a judge of stock He became a well-known breeder of Shorthorn rattle and Romney sheep, mid judged both cattle and sheep at shows almost all over New Zealand He w-is a pioneer steward of the Mnnawntn Agricultural Association. His love foi homes was typical of Iho men of those days. He came of a family of great horsemen and raced many of the Ad vance breed, of which Postillion was the most noterl. His brother Duncan was well known for his riding. • Mr. Campion leaves a widow, Mrs. Janet Campion, four sons. Cameron, Tdkapau; Leo, Roy and Desmond, Okirae; and three daughters, Mrs. I*. C. Georgetti, Gisborne; Mrs. W. Macdonald, Mangamahu; Mrs. L. C. Hamm. Pannevirke; and 17 grandchildren. One Wanganui from the war. as the result of wounds. .

Advice was received in Gisborne to day of the death of a well-known Wni ktttd resident, Mr. George F. McC'ullagh of Cambridge, after a short illness.