OBITUARY

Southland Times, Issue 21429, 25 June 1931, Page 4

OBITUARY

MR GEORGE BIGGAR The death of Mr George Biggar, of Croydon, which occurred on Tuesday morning, removes a well-known old identity of the Eastern District. There were .few men in the district better known than the late Mr Biggar. For half a century he had resided at Croydon. . The deceased was a native of Alloa, Scotland, and came to New Zealand as a lad in 1861. He .attended the Waikari School, near Dunedin, his people then being residents of the Kaikorai Valley. After arriving at manhood’s estate he removed to Oamaru, where he married Miss Annie Harland in 1879. He came to the Gore district in 1881, and was employed as a waggoner by the New Zealand Agricultural Company. He took over his holding at Croydon the same year, and had lived there ever since. The late Mr Biggar took a keen interest in district affairs. Owing to the close proximity of his home to the bush he had ample opportunity to study native plants and bird life. He was no mean authority on native flora and fauna, and native game had in him a strong friend and protector. He was a particular friend of the wild pigeon, and was always anxious that this beautiful bird should not be exterminated in the Croydon bush. For many years he was the Acclimatization Society’s ranger for the protection of native birds, etc. He also undertook the duties of caretaker of the Croydon domain. He was a lover of curios, and had gathered quite a large collection. Frequently he spent his holidays in tours to various parts of the West Coast, such as Milford, Te Anau, Greenstone and other wellknown localities, and his reminiscences of such trips were most interesting. At Croydon he was one of the principal movers in having the Croydon Hall erected, and almost invariably he was the residents’ choice of chairman for local meetings. Mr Biggar was one of those who lent valuable assistance in the formation of the Gore and Surrounding Districts’ Early Settlers’ Association, and he had been one of its vice-presidents since its inception. He was also interested in patriotic work during the war, and took a very prominent part in the sending away of district men to the front, and also in welcoming home those who returned. Five of his sons took part in the Great War, serving with distinction in France, Gallipoli and Mesopotamia. There are many in the district who will remember Mr Biggar’s exploit in sledging and dragging scrub and bush to the top peak of the Hokonuis for a bonfire on the occasion of the jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1887. It was a great bonfire, and was seen for many miles around. His wife predeceased him 21 years ago, and he leaves four sons, four daughters and 22 grandchildren. The members of the family are: John (Kauri), George (Ruawai), Eelward (Pongaroa), William (Lumsden), Mesdames J. F. Grant (Croydon), D. McKay (Te Tua), A. Matthews (Mokotua) and G. E. Paterson (Timaru). One son (Valentine) died about five years ago.