OBITUARY.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 24 January 1927, Page 9

OBITUARY.

MARLBOROUGH PIONETIt. By Telegraph—Press Association. BLENHEIM, January 23. The death is announced of Henry Dunstan Vavasour, of Ugbrooke Station, one of Marlborough's most highly esteemed citizens, llie late Air Vavasour was born at Ilazlewood Gastle in Yorkshire, in ISSO, and a few days ago celebrated his 77tii birthday. He was a descendant of the Stourtons, who were noblemen of the Saxon Kingdom hundreds of years before the Conquest. The present head of the house .'t> Lord Mowbry, of Segrave anil Slourlon. The late Ah' Vavasour was the third sou of Sjr William Yaiasour, one of New Zealand’s pioneers, being associated with the Cliffords and Sir Frederick Wolel in sheep-farming ventures. Y’oung Vavasour drove from Wellington to Warekaka Station tWairarapa) the first mob of sheep landed in New Zealand. Deceased was educated at Oscott College near Birmingham, . and later studied farming. In 1871 lie _eame to New Zealand via America in 1873 he was appointed temporary manager of Flaxbourne Station, and looked after the station for eighteen months. Later he took up land in Taranaki, where he. resided till 1880. In 1880 Air Vavasour came to Flaxbourne, where he was manager for twelve months, then he went to Southland, and returned in 18S2 as permanent manager at Flaxbourne, a position lie held for fifteen years. Tn 1897 he purchased part of the Vernon Run and Ugbrooke. _The late Mr Vavasour married in 1887, at Blenheim, Miss Bertha. Alary Rdcwood, 'daughter of the late Thomas Redwood, and niece of Archbishop Rodworxl. There were twelve children. The oldest son, George was killed at Passohendaele, the second son, Rollo,' also died on active service in France. One daughter died at school in England. The surviving members of l.lic family are.: — Mrs lan Johnston (Wellington). Madame Vavasour, of the Sacred Heart Convent, Sydney, Mrs F. Re:iU (Blenheim), E. J. Vavasour (Fairlie), Francis N. Vavasour, of the Pesuit Seminary, Roeliampton, England; Gerald Vavasour, noiv in Canada.; H. H., John, and Philip Vavasour, of Ugbrooke. During his residence ihi Marlborough the late Mr Vavasour had been associated with numerous local bodies.