OBITUARY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10143, 3 May 1911, Page 1

OBITUARY.

E. J. RIDDIFORD. [Per Press Association.] PALMERSTON NORTH, May 2

Mr E. J.- Riddiford, the largest payer of taxes-, and especially of graduated tax, in New Zealand, died at 2 p.m. to-day of heart failure. He had been ill for some time, but had /allied recently. A grand-nephew, Basil Forster Pratt, died here at eight o'clock this morning, of appendicitis, after a very brief illness, and his death was a shock to Mr Riddiford. Mr Riddiford's body will be taken to his old home at the Hutt for the funeral. He was the first child baptised in New Zealand by Bishop Selwyn, and his father, who arrived in Wellington in 1839, brought out with him the first houso elected at Fipitea Point. Mr Riddiford has left three sons and throe daughters. He was the wealthiest man in New Zealand, and had large properties in the Manawatu and Wairarapa districts.