OBITUARY

Southland Times, Issue 23828, 27 May 1939, Page 7

OBITUARY

MR CHARLES D. MOORE FORMER MAYOR OF WINTON A former Mayor of Winton and a resident of the town for more than. 60 years, Mr Charles Daniel Moore, died at his home in Winton yesterday morning. Mr Moore was Mayor of the town for two different periods, holding the office for a total of 15 years. Probably no other person was more closely associated with the history of the town than was Mr Moore. He was one of the very early settlers and through his long residence in the town he had seen great changes take place and great progress made. Winton was practically only a clearing in the bush when he arrived and he lived long enough. to see it develop into one of the leading country centres in Southland. Since Winton was created a .muncipality in 1876, Mr Moore was a councillor almost continuously until 1910. He served his first term as Mayor from 1881 to 1884 and his second term from 1899 to 1910. On his retirement from the council, Mr Moore was presented with an illuminated address from the citizens of Winton in appreciation of his long services. , During his term as Mayor the Winton Band Rotunda was erected in 1902 to commemorate the coronation of Edward VII and in memory of the Southland troopers who fought and died in the Boer War.' Mr Moore’s name is inscribed on a brass plate on the rotunda, together with the name of Lord Ranfurly, then Governor of New Zealand, who opened the memorial The present Winton Post Office was also built during one of Mr Moore’s terms as Mayor and the foundation stone, which was laid by Sir Joseph Ward, also bears his name. Mr Moore was one of the last of the old settlers of Winton and during the Winton jubilee celebrations a few years ago he was one of the four guests of honour at a banquet On that occasion he is quoted to have said in reply to the chief toast of the evening (The Winton Borough Council): “Despite early difficulties in the olden days we just battled along and kept working until we got a decent council. There were few houses then and we had to clear away the bush and make outlets for water. I think I am the only one present who attended the first meetings in the town. Finally we got going and eventually the town took shape and today we see in modem up-to-date Winton the fruition of our labours. It is a long time since we started and, as Invercargill is so close, we cannot ever expect to be a big town, but we have done enough.” In addition to his borough activities Mr Moore played an important part in the rural development of the Winton district, having at various times owned and farmed several properties. At the time of his death he was the owner of a farm of 1600 acres at Avondale. Mr Moore was bom on the Isle of Mann 91 years ago. As a boy of 14 he left his home country for. Melbourne in the ship Great Britain, and two years latfer came to the North Island. He later shifted to Invercargill and then to Winton in 1875. The following year he married Miss Mary Jack, of Winton. On arrival at Winton Mr Moore started business as a butchet and baker and later conducted a big business in general groceries and hardware. He also kept a pharmacy at the same time and was the proprietor of a hotel for a short period. Upon his retirement from business some years ago His butchery and bale—ery business was carried on by two of his sons, Messrs Frederick Moore and William Moore, respectively, until recently. Mr Moore was keenly interested in lacing and immediately on taking up residence at Winton he interested himself with the Winton Jockey Club which had just started, and since then he missed few of its fixtures. He was • an energetic worker for the club’s advancement in the early years, and held practically every office, including president, starter, treasurer and judge At the club’s jubilee fixture in 1925. one of the racing events was named “The C. D. Moore Trial Stakes” in his honour. He was elected a life member of the club many years ago. He was a member of the Winton School Committee for many years and was also a member of the Winton Agricultural and Pastoral Association. He was also a Justice of the Peace.

In 1925 at the age of 78, Mi 1 Moore made a trip to his birthplace and also visited America.

He is survived by his wife and four daughters, Mrs A. F. Tosswill, of Lower Hutt, Mrs H. C. L. Gaut, of Winton, Mrs C. M. Lindsay, of Winton, and Miss B. Moore, of Winton, and three sons, Messrs F. Moore, of Winton, W. T. Moore, of Christchurch, and J. P. Moore, of Winton. There are 13 grandchildren and one great-grandchild-