OBITUARY.

Wairarapa Age, 4 May 1931, Page 4

OBITUARY.

DEATH OF MR. ROBERT CAMERON LIFETIME IN WAIRARAPA. Mr. Robert Cameron, one of the foremost and most highly respected pioneers of the Wairarapa district, died at his homestead, "Snowdon,” Mauriceville, on Saturday afternoon, after a short illness. The late Mr. Cameron, who was particularly well-known throughout the Wairarapa, would have been 75 years of age in July. He was born at Pahaua Station, on the East Coast, his grandparents, who came from Ardnamurchan, in Northern Argyllshire, arriving in Wellington in the snip Blenheim, on Christmas Day, 1840. On the same ship many of the parents of Highland families in the Wellington Province arrived. The late Mr. Cameron’s grandfather took up Pahaua Station in 1846, and on his death, his sons carried it on, subsequently buying Blairlogie Station. Mr. Cameron was educated in Wellington and on leaving school went on to the stations, first at Blairlogie and then at Pahaua. In the ’seventies, following the death of his father (Mr. Donald Cameron) in 1866, Mr. Cameron and his brothers took up land at Te Ore Ore, and in 1888 he and his brother, Donald, secured a block of bush land in the Kopuaranga district, upon which they spent many years’ hard work in clearing the bush and making the land reproductive. It was here, about forty years ago, that Mr. Cameron had the misfortune of losing the sight of one eye through a premature explosion while blasting. The late Mr. Cameron had resided on this property ever since, except for a trip to Europe about five years ago. The late Mr. Cameron took the keenest interest in the affairs of the Wairarapa Caledonian Society, of which he was a member for 54 years. Ho was most enthusiastic and generous in his support of the society in every way, for many years entertaining the members at an Ingleside annually. Mr. Cameron had the honour of being elected Chief of the Caledonian Society in May, 1915 an office he held -until his death. He took a great delight in the music of the pipes and in all that pertained to Scottish tradition. His unostentatious benefactions were not by any means confined to members of the Caledonian Society. He was generous to all with whom he came in contact. Mr. Cameron was a notable worker during the Great War, engaging actively in recruiting -and other war work. Not long after hostilities ceased, together with his brother, Mr. D. J. Cameron, he presented the Cameron and Soldiers’ Memorial Park, of 12} acres, in memory of Mr. D. J. Cameron’s son, Norman, who was killed in the war, and other soldiers, as a ground to be devoted to the interests of sport for all time. The late Mr. Cameron is survived by a widow (a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Baigent, an old Nelson family) and two sons, Messrs. lan D. and Allan Cameron, of Mauriceville, and four brothers Messrs. D. J. Cameron (Upper Plain':’ and Walter, Allan and William Cam: eron (Te Ore Ore). Mrs. F. G. Cooper (Queensland) and Mrs. F. c. Lewis (Masterton) are half-sisters. The sympathy of a very large number of friends throughout the district and elsewhere will be extended to the relatives tn the great loss they, have suffered The funeral will take place to-dav, leaving the residence, "Snowdon,'” Jj au Jl ce Y llle ’ at 2 P-m., and arriving at the Masterton Cemetery at 3 p.m. All members of the Caledonian Society are invited to attend.

Deep regret will be felt by a wide circle of friends at the death of Mrs. Martha McLachlan, which occurred at the homestead, Bangitumau, last evening. The late Mrs. McLachlan, who we, born , at Makara , Wellington, in l o T l ’x7 a V-n e - youn Best8 est daughter of the late Mr. William McKelvie, Wellington, and her husband, tho late Mr. Donald McLachlan predeceased her six years her' ..She h ad spent the greater pari of was i armlag B ! Rangitumau, and was well-known and highly respected throughout the district? T y he late M rs he/hod 1 # 11 ’ ? h " had been conl fiued to . f ° r he r ’ lBt two is survived by a brother, Mr. John MeKelfTmilv„T naCeVine ’ and B Vown up p-m -’ tor the Masterton Cemetery