OBITUARY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVI, Issue 21324, 19 April 1939, Page 8

OBITUARY

MR R. C. TENNENT The death in his ninetieth year, of Mr Robert Collinge Tennent, at his residence, Woodville, ended a life closely associated with the early settlement and development of New Zealand. Born in Rio de Janiero in 1849, Mr Tennent was educated at the Elizabethan College, Guernsey, Channel Islands, and, in company with his widowed mother, three brothers and two sisters, arrived in New Zealand by the sailing ship British Empire in 1864. Settling in Nelson, Mr Robert Tennent there joined the Bank of New South Wales, of which he was a junior officer when the Maungatapu murders were committed. It was discovered after the arrest of Burgess, Kelly and Sullivan, on suspicion, that preparations hrd been rr ide by them to rob the bank O"> the night of their arrest, their plan being to murder the resident clerk, Mr Tennent, and plunder the bank at their leisure. Mr Tennent served the bank over a period of 53 years, being manager at Nelson, Patea, Wanganui, Auckland, Tirnaru and Invercargill. Following his retirement he lived first for some years in Napier, and subsequently at Woodville. In 1868 Mr Tennent founded in Nelson the first Rugby football club in New Zealand, and in inter-provincial matches with Wellington represented the Nelson Province in both cricket and football. He also held the mile running championship of the province for three years, and almost to the end of his life was noted for his keen participation in long-distance walks, golf, bowls and other sports. In 1875 Mr Tennent married Miss Emily Boor, eldest daughter <./ the lt-e Dr Leonard Boor, one of the most noted medical practitioners of ear l v New Zealand, and of their 11 childrm four sons served in the Great War. Mr Tennent is survi-ed by his wife, two daughters and five sons.