PASSING OF A PIONEER.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17992, 10 April 1930, Page 8

PASSING OF A PIONEER.

DEATH OF JOHN McCAW. LONG LIFE OF SERVICE. The death occurred whilst working in the garden at his residence, “ Ardwell,” River Road, Hamilton, this morning, of Mr John McCaw. one of Waikato’s earliest and best known settlers, ■ at the age of SO years. The late gentleman was a native of Kirkoswald, Ayrshire, Scotland, where he was horn in 1849. He received his education at the parish school, the Ayrshire Academy and the Glasgow University and was brought up to farming. At the age of 16 he began his farming career as a manager of one of his father’s farms. In 1874, at the age of 25 he set sail for New Zealand in the sailing ship, Oamaru, landing at Port Chalmers. Three years later he became manager of one of Mr J. M. Ritchie’s stations in South Canterbury and subsequently took over the management of the Three Springs estate in the Fail-lie Creek district. Six years later, in 1866, he entered the employment of the New Zealand and Australian Land Company, with which firm he remained until appointed superintendent of the Bank of New Zealand Estate Company's property in the North Island. When the bank took over the Auckland Agricultural Company’s estates, Mr McCaw became superintendent of the Waikato properties. For many years he resided at “ The Towers," Matamata, when the whole of the Matamata district was one large estate managed by him for the Assets Realisation Board. The late gentleman in his earlier . years identified himself closely with the affairs of the districts in which he resided. He was, Chairman of the Matamata Road Board for ten years from 1895, was a member of the Piako County Council, and a member of four various other public bodies including the old Farmers’ Club, the Waikato Agricultural and Pastoral Association and the Winter Show- Association. During the war he was appointed a member of the first Military Service Board, in association with Sir George Elliot and Mr F. J. Burgess. By reason of his w-ide-experience of farming and his great knowledge of land values, he was appointed by the Govenment to the Soldiers’ Revaluation Board in 1923, when his advice was much appreciated. - The late Mr McCaw was married twice, firstly in 1881 to a daughter of Rev. A. B. Todd, of Oamaru. This lady died in 1890 and three years later he married the daughter of Mr A. Buckland, the well-known auctioneer, of Auckland. John McCaw is a familiar name to all old residents of Waikato. The name is also one of the most respected, for the late gentleman was the soul of integrity and the essence of kindness and consideration. These qualities, combined with an exceedingly genial disposition and a strict sense of the just, made him beloved by all who knew him. He was a keen follower of sport, and latterly was to be found regularly on the greens of the Claudelands ..Bowling Club,, to which lie belonged. Right until the end he retained his facilities and remained active. Deceased was engaged in mowing the lawn this morning, when, as he stopped to empty the grass-catcher, he lay gently down and expired. His passing will be the cause of much regret, and to his widow and family, general sympathy will be extended. His survivors are his widow, four sons and two daughters. The children are Mrs Norman Banks ’(Cambridge), Mrs C. G. Payze (Matamata), Oswald A. McCaw (Cambridge), William H. McCaw (I-lawkes Bay), Douglas McCaw (North Borneo) and Ronald McCaw (Hamilton). One son, Alfred John, was killed in the late war. The funeral will leave his late residence on Sunday next at 4 p.m., the Hamilton East cemetery.