OBITUARY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 6 January 1925, Page 6

OBITUARY.

AIR R. C. GILLIES,

Mr R. 0. Gillies, whose death occurred on Sunday, at Mayfield, was well known throughout 'Canterbury and Otago. Of a happy, genial nature, he had a host of friends. A son of the late Mr Robert Gillies, lie was born my, Dunedin, and was an old boy at the Otago High School.' On leaving senool Mr Lillies went into commercial life Oamaru. but after some years lm relinquished this and went to live at HakatsrameP, where he acquired a sheep station, which he worked .nth considerable success. Yvhue at Hafcatavamoa, he was for some yearn a member of the W&imate Coimty.Council, aa representative or. that bodv of the Kskataramea riding. In addition to his sheep run at .nakataramea, Mi Gillies was for some time the owner or rw-d Peak station on the southern shores of Lake Wukatipu. On disposing of this, and of his Hakataramea station, Mr Gillies came to reside in Timarii, where he lived in semi-retire-ment for two or three years, making occasional visits to Fiji, where he owned a rubber plantation. About six months ago, Air Gillies bought a sheep property at Mayfield, in the Ashburton district, and has since resided there. , , . « Mr Gillies was a keen supportei or the turf, and at different times held the office of president of the IvuroW Jot-kev Club and the Forth Otago Jockev Club He was an owner of the most desirable type, racing for love of the. sport, and being practically a non ■bettor. His horses were trained by b. Trilford' at Waslidyke and Oran, until the trainer removed to Riccarton, since when R. C. Keener had prepared Air Gillies’ string. Aiany of the animals raced bv the deceased sportsman were bred bv himself, the majority being the progeny of Canterbury Belle or Nithsevo. Among the best known of bis i-i cers were, the .steeplechaser Ban Sebastian. Afortham, Bellrnck. Pn'kaninnv. Bellshire. Ruddy Gold, C-oeh-v-hondhn. and otlicrs. ' Afr Gillies, whose comparatively early der.lh will be widely denlorod. is survived bv a widow and' four children—tliroo daughters anil, one sore The funeral will take place in Timaru to-morrow afternoon.