OBITUARY

Taranaki Daily News, 25 July 1929, Page 8

OBITUARY

LIFE-TIME IN DAIRYING.

AIR. STEPHEN JAMES AMBURY

After a life-time closely connected with the dairying industry in the Auckland province, Mr. Stephen James Ambury died on Tuesday at his residence, Epsom, following an illness that had extended over six months (says the Auckland Herald). The son of an English farmer, Mr. Ambury was born at Aston Ingham, Herefordshire, on November 17, 1851. He was married on December 19, 1877, at Westbury on Severn, Gloucestershire, and two years later, accompanied by his wife, set out for New Zealand. They arrived at Auckland in the sailing ship British Empire on February 5, 1880, after a voyage lasting nearly three months. The ship, which was of 583 tons, carried 250 passengers. There was a great deal of sickness on the voyage and nine people died. No steward or stewardess was carried on the ship, and the food was all dried or tinned, Mr. Ambury once related.

BEGINNING OF LARGE FIRM. The day after they landed in Auckland Mr. and Mrs. Ambury went to Cambridge, where Mr. Ambury had his first experience of New Zealand farming conditions. After a short period he returned to Auckland to establish a small milk business, the beginning of the large firm now known as Anibury’s, Limited, and of which he was until his death chairman of directors. Until his final illness he maintained excellent health and took a very active part in the business. With the progress of the business the firm entered the butter-making industry, and Mr. Ambury was one of the pioneers of the butter export industry. In 1899 the first ton of factory butter was shipped from Auckland to England by the firm, and it was justifiably regarded as a notable event. The shipment also created considerable interest in England. Compared with this initial shipment of one ton, the present export figures of nearer 50,000 tons of butter from Auckland annually illustrate the growth of the industry. CREAMERY AT MANGERE. The pioneers in the dairy export industry met with many difficulties, one being the unfavourable attitude of the farmers. Mr. Ambury called a meeting of farmers at Mangere in 1885, and offered to erect a creamery in the district if they supplied him with their milk. He told them that the proposal was to make -butter for export, which was the only way to secure money and develop the country. The farmers laughed at the idea and at first refused to supply milk. Later, however, a creamery was built and proved a success. -Mr. Ambury was also closely connected with the Auckland Farmers’ Freezing Company, of which hb was one of the original directors and shareholders. He was chairman of directors from 1914 to 1921, and remained a director until the time of his death. During his last illness he expressed a desire to resign from the position, but his fellowdirectors preferred to retain his services. PROMINENT CHURCH WORKER. For many years Mr. Ambury was a prominent member of the Methodist Church, and was an officer of the Pitt Street Methodist Church for more than 45 years. He was also chairman of the Probert Trust, controlling various church properties, and was a trustee of other estates. During Mr. Ambury’s illness the duties of chairman of Anibury’s, Limited, have been carried out in deputy by his brother, Mr. Joseph Ambury. Dlr. Ambury is survived by his wife, but there is no family. Mr. and Mrs. Ambury celebrated their golden wedding on December 19, 1927. . Dlr. Ambury’s four brothers and two sisters are still living. They are Messrs. Joseph and Walter’ Ambury, of Epsom, Dlr. John Ambury, of Ruawai, North Auckland, Dlr. Arthur Ambury, of New Plymouth, and Dlrs. A. Nosey and Miss Ambury, of Hamilton.