DEATH OF MR S. R. LANCASTER.

Te Aroha News, Volume XLI, Issue 6599, 14 May 1925, Page 8

DEATH OF MR S. R. LANCASTER.

NOTED FIGURE IN THE JERSEY WORLD The recent death of Mr S. R. Lancaster, the doyen of Manawatu Jersey breeders, will- leave a big gap in breeding circles. Mr Lancaster’s death followed a brief illness, and news of his end caused deep and wide; spread regret. One of the best known men in the Jersey world, Mr Lancaster did much to popularise the little Island cow, and he was one of the largest importers of stock direct from historic Jersey. Perhaps his most noted importation was that of the now famous C.O.R. bull Majesty’s Fox, which played an important part in building up New Zealand’s dairy herds. Majesty’s Fox, however, is only one of quite a number of valuable importations made by Mr Lancaster during his 30 years of breeding Jerseys, and among these special mention must be made of Maiden’s Glory Lad, • Majesty’s Oxford Sultan, and Marshal Aldan, the bull which, at present, heads the deceased gentleman’s herd. As a private individual Mr Lancaster also won universal esteem. In public life he filled many important roles, and at the time of his death he was a members of numerous local bodies. As a foundation member, he was associated with Mr A. Buchanan in founding the New Zealand Jersey Cattle Breeders’ Association.

The late Mr Lancaster was born at Karori, Wellington, 63 years ago, being the. second son of one of the first colonists of the Wellington province, in the late Mr Stephen Lancaster. He was educated at the Karori school, and in his early manhood came to Palmerston North, via Foxton, the sea voyage from Wellington being made by the small coastal steamer Jane Douglas, a favourite means of transportation in the pre-railway days. With his wife he took up a bush block at Fitzherbert. where he resided for many years after .breaking in his holding with the success which continued to attend his ventures of that description in later years, and right up to the time of his death. In common with his fellow early settlers in the Manawatu, Mr Lancaster endured with fortitude the hardships of the period, his genial nature and cheery optimism endearing him to all with whom he came in contact, and laying the foundation of the remarkably widespread friendships which he enjoyed in the later and less strenuous years of his useful life.

With the passing of time he set out not only to attain success as a farmer, but as a breeder of the best in pedigree stock, and as such his name is known all over the Dominion. He specialised in Jersey, cattle, though his Southdown sheep flocks and Tamworth and Berkshire pigs commanded attention from breeders far afield. As a breeder he never hesitated to procure the best to build up his herds and flocks, and his many importations from Jersey Island and North America are cases in point. His sales of pedigree Jerseys are invariably attended by buyers from all quarters of the country, and the quality of the offering was attested by the high prices which they commanded, while the late gentleman’s numerous prominent successes at shows put the hall-mark on his breeding operations. For a number - of years he secured the points prize for the most successful all-round exhibitor at the Manawatu and West Coast A. and P. Association’s Show, and the crowning victory of his career occurred at the recent First Royal Show, where he had the honour of exhibiting the champion Jersey cow. His expert knowledge caused his services as a judge to be in great requisition throughout the Dominion. For the past seven years he had resided on his Te Matai property, on Napier Road, where he continued the breeding of pedigree stock with marked success. He was one of the most prominent in the movement for the formation of the Royal Agricultural Society of New Zealand, and was an active worker in the preliminaries to, and the conduct of, New Zealand’s first Royal Show. For many years he was a delegate to the New Zealand Agricultural Conference, and he was a leading figure in the councils of the North Island Sheep Breeders’ Association. A past president of the Manawatu A. and P. Association, he was chairman of the Winter Show committee of that body, and one of the oldest members of the general committee. At the time of his death he was president of the Manawatu Hunt Club, and of the Kairanga County Council, treasurer of the Ma-nawatu-Oroua Power Board, and a

member of a number of other important local bodies. The Church, too, will mourn his passing, as he was a keen worker in the causes espoused by St. Peter’s Anglican Church, at Terrace End, the vestry of which he was a member. The late Mr Lancaster leaves to mourn his passing a wife, six sons, and four daughters.