OBITUARY

Southland Times, Issue 20940, 25 November 1929, Page 5

OBITUARY

MR SAMUEL ROSS, TE TIPUA. \ (From Our Correspondent.) The death of Mr Samuel Ross, which took place at his residence, Caithness Road, Mataura, last week, has made another break in the pioneer settlers of the country. The late Mr Ross was born at Glenock, Newton Stewart, County Tyrone, Ireland, in 1855, and had thus reached the ripe age of 74 years. He sailed for New Zealand in 1874 in the ship Eastern Monarch, landing at Lyttelton. He was first engaged for some six months as ploughman for the late Mr J. P. Barr in Canterbury, and following this was for five years with the late Mr J. Hall, of Leeston. The late Mr Ross removed to Raikaia in 1882 and for about eight years he owned and worked a threshing mill plant in partnership with a Mr Leonard White. On the dissolution of the partnership he commenced farming on his own account, having purchased “Dellmount,” Rakaia, some time previously. In the year 1884 he was married to Miss Oakley, of Overdale. The late Mr Ross left Rakaia some 29 years ago and came south some time after the Edendale Estate was cut up and purchased a block of 2,000 acres from Messrs Friedlander Bros., at Te Tipua. This land was in its rough state and covered with tussocks, but Mr Ross being a practical farmer, set to work and with the aid of his sons turned the holding into a highly productive proposition. Although not taking a prominent part in politics he was keenly interested in the welfare of the district and was one of those who took an active part in having the Te Tipua School removed to its present position. He was also' interested in the movement some years ago to have the railway put through from Hedgehope to Gore. The late Mr Ross was a very fine type of settler and a ■man with a very fine disposition which gained for him many friends in the district whose sympathy is extended to the bereaved family. He retired from active work some six years ago and lived at Gore for a period of two years, but later returned to Te Tipua, and only some six weeks ago shifted to Mataura. He was a very enthusiastic Orangeman. He is survived by his widow and a family of five sons and four daughters as follows:—Messrs George (Ruapuna, Canterbury), Bertram, Robert, Leslie and Alfred (Te Tipua), and Mesdames James Copland (Isla, Otaraia), C. W. Goodwin (Te Tipua), W. J. Irwin, junr. (Mataura) and J. G. F. Munro (Terrace Road, Mataura). The interment took place at Mataura on Friday.

MR BEN DOWNES, MATAURA. The news of the death of Mr Benjamin Downes, which occurred at his residence, Denbigh street, Mataura, on Friday afternoon, was received with general feelings of regret. The late Mr Downes was a native of New Zealand and was born at the Kilmog, near Dunedin, and was in his 58th year. Educated at Waitati and Outram when quite a young man he went to the West Coast and was engaged in bridge building on the Otira line from Springfield to Arthur’s Pass, and also in the Murchison district. Returning from the West Coast he went to the blacksmithing trade, and was apprenticed to the late Mr Charlton, of Clinton. Later he came to Mataura and linked up with the blacksmithing and engineering firm of W. Gardiner and Co Some years later he left that firm and commenced business on his own account, purchasing the late Mr John Lowden’s blacksmithing business in Denbigh street, which is now conducted by Mr T. Richmond. After some years the late Mr Downes took over Gardiner’s old permises in Kana street, but he retired from that business and took over Mr Quilter’s fruit and confectionery business in Bridge street. He was an excellent tradesman and a hard toiler, but the heavy work told its tale upon his constitution in later years and he had not enjoyed good health for some time. He bore his illness with great fortitude and passed away peacefully. The late Mr Downes was a fine citizen and his many sterling qualities and fine disposition gained for him many friends. He took a keen interest in local politics and was a member of the Borough Council for four years, while many institutions in the town claimed his support. He was married at Balclutha in May, 1896, to Miss E. Mackie, daughter of Mr E. Mackie, of Kaitangata, and is survived by his widow and two sons, Messrs E. A. Downes (Mataura), C. H. Downes (Invercargill), and one daughter, Miss Rita Downes, at home, to whom the sympathy of a large circle of friends is extended. Evidence of the popularity of the deceased was provided by the large number of friends who paid a last tribute of respect to the deceased at the interment, which took place at Mataura yesterday.