Obituary.

Southland Times, Issue 12122, 30 April 1908, Page 2

Obituary.

GEORGE QATONBY STEAD, fjer United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, April 29. Mr Geo. G. Stead died shortly after four o'clock this afternoon. Mr Stead sustained a sudden seizure a few days ago, from the effects of which he never recovered. Mr George Gatonby Stead was one of the most prominent commercial men in Canterbury. He was born in 1841 in London, where he commenced his primary education, and subsequently completed his studies at St Andrew's College, Grahamstown. Returning to London In ISGS Mr Stead left for New Zealand, per ship Talbot in the following year, and Joined the staff of the Union Bank of Australia, in Christchurch, soon after his arrival. He remained in the service of that institution until 1870, when he entered into partnership with the late Mr William Koyse, under the style of Royse, Stead and Co., as grain and export merchants. The firm conducted a large and successful business till 1882, when they disposed of it to the New Zealand Grain Agency Company, Ltd., which, however, discontinued business in 18S4. Mr Stead has long been prominently connected with public enterprises in Canterbury; he is chairman of directors of "The Press" Newspaper Companv, Ltd., and a director of the Christehurch Gas, Coal, and Coke Company, Ltd.. S. Manning and Co., Ltd., and the New Zealand Shipping Company. He was a promoter and deputychairman of the Union Insurance Company up to the time of its purchase by the Alliance Assurance Company of London, of which he is now deputy-chair-man in New Zealand. He was foremost in the formation of the Canterbury Club, has long been an active member of the Chamber of Commerce, of which he was president during the years 1881-»-G, and took a leading part In the establishment of the Tai Tapu and Central Dairy Factories. Mr Stead was the moving spirit of the Press Relief Fund and Winter Work Fund, which rendered such good service to the necessitous of Christehurch during two winters, ana he assisted to forward the Brunner Relief Fund by his influence. It will be remembered that during the great maritime strike of 1890, Mr Stead was active in organising the freo-labpurers in Lyttelton, and at the general election held at the end of that year, he became a candidate for the House of Representatives for the Avon constituency, but was defeated, owing to the labour party opposing his return, by a comparatively narrow majority of ICO. Mr Stead had long been conspicuous in racing matters in Canterbury, and had filled the office of treasurer of the Jockey Club for twenty-five years. He was one of the largest owners of racehorses in the colony, and has been very successful as a prize-winner. He was appointed a Justice of the Peace by the Stout-Vogel Ministry. It was he'who initiated the patriotic movement which resulted in Canterbury providing and equipping a troop of 110 mounted men, who were despatched to South Africa by the s.s. Knight Templar in February, 1900. Mr Stead was married in 1876 to a daughter of Mr Wilkinson, of Yorkshire, England, and had three sons and one daughter.