OBITUARY

Southland Times, Issue 22010, 9 May 1933, Page 8

OBITUARY

MR J. A. JOHNSTONE WELL-KNOWN SHEEP BREEDER INTEREST IN AGRICULTURE (Per United Press Association.) Dunedin, May 8. The death occurred at Dunedin today, at the age of 74, of Mr James Armour Johnstone, managing director of Messrs Wright, Stephenson and, Co., with which firm he had been associated for 58 years. His Bushy Park stud of Corriedale sheep and his Scottish Shorthorn cattle are known throughout the Dominion, and further afield, where his stock enjoys the highest reputation. He is survived by a widow and three daughters. Mr Johnstone was born in Glasgow, his father being the Rev. David Johnstone. He was educated at the Otago Boys’ High School and entered the service of Messrs Wright, Stephenson and Company in 1875, becoming a partner 10 years later. He was the first chairman of the company when it was made a public concern, but resigned his position on account of ill-health. He was a founder of the Otago branch of the Navy League, first president and a member of the council of the Clydes-, dale Horse Society of New Zealand, a member of the council of the Shorthorn Society, a member of the council of the Plunket Society and of the council of the Royal Agricultural Society of New Zealand. Mr Johnstone was also vice-consul at Dunedin for the Argentine Republic. MR J. A. DUTHIE. (Per United Press Association.) Dunedin, May 8. The death has occurred of Mr John Alexander Duthie, aged 79, the first white child born in the Milton district. He was a founder and first director of the Bruce Woollen Company and South Otago Freezing Company. He was Mayor of Milton nine times.

Mr Duthie was the son of one of the earliest pioneers, Mr A. J. Duthie, who arrived by the Lady Nugeni, landing in Wellington in 1841, and coming on to Otago in 1843 as a member of the first party to undertake the survey of the province, states the Otago Daily Times. Mr J. A. Duthie was born in Milton, then known as Tokomairiro, and was the first white child to be born in that district. In 1863, at nine years of age, he proceeded to Nelson College and in 1865 returned to join as one of the early pupils of the Otago Boys’ High School, then under ths rectorship of Mr Simmons. On leaving school he entered the service of the old Bank of Otago in the Milton branch, and went ovex' te the National Bank of New Zealand when that institution absorbed the older one. At the early age of 19 years Mr Duthie started on his own account in Milton as a stock and station agent, and built up a highly successful business from which he retired as late as 1918, when he sold out to the National Mortgage and Agency Co., Ltd. It is interesting to note that on leaving the National Bank he was followed there by his brother, Mr David Duthie, who subsequently rose to be general manager of the bank, and chairman of the Associated Banks during the difficult war period. He was Mayor of Milton on no fewer than nine occasions. He was one of the founders and first directors of the Bruce Woollen Mills, Milton, and of the South Otago Freezing Works, Balclutha. He was also one of the founders of the well-known Bruce Building Society, and was its president at the time of his death. He was also for a time a member of the Otago Hussars. He is survived by his widow, two sons and three daughters. His son Robert, remembered as one of the outstanding athletes of his day, volunteered immediately on the outbreak of war, and left as a lieutenant of the Otago infantry with the Main Body, N.Z.E.F., and fell in action within a few days of the first landing on Gallipoli. Shortly before this Mr Duthie had suffered another' bereavement in the loss of his daughter, Miss Ella Duthie. MR W. H. BUSWELL. (Per United Press Association ) Gisborne, May 8. The death occurred to-day, after a brief illness, of Mr William Howard Buswell, engineer to the Poverty Bay Electric Power Board since its inception in 1926, and for 14 years previously electrical engineer to the Borough Council. He was aged 54 years. MR HUGH MACKENZIE. The death occurred at Dunedin on Saturday evening of an old and respected pioneer, Mr Hugh Mackenzie, sen., of Walter Peak and Mount Nicholas Stations, Lake Wakatipu. The deceased, who was born at Rhiconich, near Ardmore, Sutherlandshire, Scotland, in 1847, camb to New Zealand when but a young man. After spending several years in North Otago he joined his brother Alexander as proprietor of the Cornet Peak Station, near Arrowtown, where he remained for five years, later removing to a small farming property near Walter Peak (states the Otago Daily Times). Subsequently he acquired both the Walter Peak and Mount Nicholas Stations, where he spent the last 54 years of his arduous life, directing his sons in the carrying on. of the two stations. Mr Mackenzie’s sterling qualities stamped him as an outstanding pioneer whose personality and kindly consideration for his fellowmen endeared him to many thousands of people who have had the opportunity of partaking of his hospitality at Walter Peak Station.

Mr Mackenzie was a staunch Presbyterian, and in every sense lived up to all that his religion meant. He is survived by his second wife and four sons—Messrs John, Alexander, Hugh and Major Peter Mackenzie—and two daughters—Misses Margaret and Anastasia Mackenzie—all of whom were associated with him in his farming operations. The deceased is also survived by 12 grandchildren.