OBITUARY.

Wairarapa Age, 30 July 1925, Page 5

OBITUARY.

MR. JOHN DRUMMOND. * A very wide circle of friends and old settlers in the Wairarapa will learn with regret of the death, which occurred in the Hobson street hospital, Wellington, early yesterday morning, of Mr John Drummond, of 154 Moxhnm Avenue, Kilbirnie. The late Mr Drummond was born at Nelson on August 19, 1843, and so was almost 82 years of ; age. He was the eldest son of Donild Drummond, his mother being a Miss Macßae. Donald Drummond lived at Evans Bay, Wellington, but often came to the Wairarapa, and met his death in 1850 by drowning while crossing the' Wairarapa Lake. Young John Drummond was educated at Edward Toomath’a Commercial and Grammar School, and amongst his contemporaries or close successors were the Dorsets, Richard Barton, the Armstrongs, Robert Canswell, George Dixon, W. F. Barraud, W, M. Kebbell, Samuel Warren and James Speedy. Mrs Donald Drummond, left a widow, afterwards married the late Mr C. A. Vallance, and tho young family came to reside at Kahumingi. Here the deceased gained much of that wide knowledge of farming and stock which enabled him to qualify for the post of inspector of stock. In this capacity he was stationed in Auckland and Hawkes Bay and finally in the Wairarapa, where he took an energetic and effective part in the eradication of the scab pest. Mr Drummond threw both energy and knowledge into his duties and made a host of friends by his unfailing courtesy and tact. He was promoted to be Chief Inspector and as such spent the last years of his official life in Wellington. He retired from tho service about 15 years ago and had since lived in Wellington. Mr Drummond married a widow, Mrs Anderson, who was formerly Miss Annie Gillies, of Otaraia station, Marlinborough. She died in 1914. The family consists of Messrs Donald (Te Kuiti), Leonard (Hastings) and Phillip Drummond (Waipukyrau), all of whom are fanners, Mr Harry Drummond (of Murray, Roberts and Co., Gisborne), and the Misses Kitty (matron of the Waipukurau Hospital), Nance (Christchurch) and Helen (Wellington). There are three grandchildren.

Mrs Dunean McMaster (Pownall street) is a sister, and Mr T. M. Drummond (Greytown) a brother. The halfbrother and sisters are Mr C. F. Vallance (Kahumingi), Miss Vallance and Miss Bello Vallance (Cole street). The funeral will take place at Masterton to-morrow, leaving St. Matthew’s Church at 12.30 p.m.