MR. R. E. McRAE.

Colonist, Volume LII, Issue 12738, 9 March 1910, Page 1 (Supplement)

MR. R. E. McRAE.

Tlie "Hawera Star" of Febriaryl 28th, says-^Very general regret wi'l ] be felt throughout the district .'■- the 'announcement of the death of M*. R. E. Mcllae, for he was one of -the Wt known and most liked men in ih.E part of New Zealand. , Mr. Mcßae was a native of Nelson, a son of Mr George Mcßae, who in the early days had a run in the Awatere, Marlborough district ,was educated at Nelson College, and he married in Nelson a daughter of the late Dr. McShain. But many years ago he left Nelson.. It must have been 1872 or 1873 when at the original Government sale of the Whenuakura block he bought hisfirst property in Taranaki. Not long after he parted with the property, and was associated with Mr.. Nicholson m farming at Kakaramea , where they had a pretty big property, and besides farming he went in for boiling down works, shipping cattle to the West Coast goldfields. Soon After the i Waimate Plains were opened Mr. Mcßae had a -farm' near Manaia, and -lived, there for many years. Another incident of his career was his projeot or a

New Zealand settlement in South Africa. He had the idea that after J tho war there would bo a boom in South Africa, and going over he got the option of the purchase of lands aggregating pretty well 40,000 acres. Just previously to this there had been some dissatisfaction in New Zealand owing to the difficulty of getting land, and it was thought that many farmers would emigrate to South Africa. But there was a revival in New Zealand, and contemporaneously affairs in Africa looked less rosy, and ultimately Mr. Mcßae surrendered the rights to concessions obtained in South Africa. From his youth, Mr. Mcßae had been extremely fond ot animals, and there wer© few men who had better knowledge of horses, especially the lighter class, and his services were always in request and were freely given at the principal shows in various parts of New Zealand. At Patea he was associated with the old A. and P. Society, holding various orfices, and the same may bo said m respect of the Egmont Society. As a breeder of good horses and as a racehorse owner Mr. Mcßae was also very well known. He imported to the district such stud-horses as Deadshot, Morpheus, Puriri, and among horses he raced there come to mind such names as Whalebone, Butcher Boy, Volunteer, Firetail, Monarch and others. Sporting people all agree that never did they meet a more straightforward, honourable competitor. Indeed, this was his characteristic in all his activities. ..,. -„„„,_ For some time past Mr. Mcllae s health Had been unsatisfactory, and latterly disease made such progress that the end was seen to be near. The funeral will take place at Manaia Cemetery, where there lie the remains of his wife and of his eldest son, Mr. Nelson Mcßae, 'whose tragic death at Rangitikei is .still so well remembered. The surviving family are Miss Mcßae, and three sons, Messrs Philip, Sydney, and Gordon Mcßae.

Mrs de Looze, wife of Mr B. B. de Looze, of the teaching staff of the Nelson School of Music, passed away on Fob. 11th, after a brief illness ness. Mr and Mrs de Looze came from Timaru less than a year ago, and during their residence here have made many friends. The deepest sympathy will be felt with the be•reaved husband, who is left with an infant daughter. An Auckland Press Association ware says that on Sunday morning Mr. Charles A. Relgrave, accountant, ot Wellington, was leaving the ferry boat when ho slipped and fell on to the lowea- deck, striking his head against a projection. Ho was picked up unconscious and conveyed to the hospital, where he was found to be suffering from concussion of the brain,. An operation "■ was performed and hopes were entertained of his recovery. A private wire received in town yesterday morning stated that Mr. Redgrave did not recover from the shock, and passed away .at one o clock. The deceased was well known m kelson, where he resided with his parents his father being Mr. A. J. Redgrave, formerly of the Nelson Lands Office, but now of Auckland.