OBITUARY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 05, Issue 88, 7 August 1942, Page 5

OBITUARY

HON .J. V. GOW One ot' the foremost citizens of the Bay of Plenty for over 50 years, Mr James Vurman Gow died at liis residence Opotiki; early on Thursday morning. Mr Gow was a farmer and had developed large tracts of virgin country in Opotiki, Waiotahi, Nukuhou and the Rangitaiki Plains, bringing the land into first class production. Nor was he only concerned with his own betterment; at the age of. 24 he. was chairman of the Whakatane County Council and following this early commencement in public affairs lie cccupicd many executive public positions, not only in the Bay of Plenty but as a member of the N.Z. Counties Association of which on retirement he was elected a life member. He was also a member of the National Dairy Association and during the Premiership of the late Mr W. F. Massey was appointed to the Legislative Council and served in Parliament for 14 years. He was fpr many years a member of the Opotiki County Council, being chairman for a period of 20 years. Practically every main road between Opotiki and Whakatane saw its inception under Mr Gow's guidance and later on .he took a growing interest in , the drainage operations which converted 100,000 acres of- soured swamp into the fertile Rangitaiki Plains of to-day. He was selected by the Government of New Zealand on two .occasions to go abroad representing the Dominion—at the Council of Pacific Relations at Honolulu, and at the. Empire Parliamentary Conference ~in Canada. Mr Gow was a speaker of more than ordinary ability. While he spoke always with characteristic force, he had a sparkling gift of humour and the capacity for marshalling his facts and bringing his arguments to a sound conclusion, after rising to his feet at a me<et-

ing. His- father, the Rev. John Gow, came ostensibly to Opotiki to retire but being of a vigorous personality, to him must go much of the credit for establishing the Presbyterian Church in Opotiki, TaneatUa, Opouriao and Whakatane. Elder of v the church, his son was a well known figure at the N.Z. General Assembly. In ISB6 the late Mr Gow married Miss Jessie Alison Murray, daughter of Mr George Murray and he is survived by three sons, Messrs W. B. Gow, James Gow and Wain ter B. Gow, all of Edgecumbe, and three daughters Mrs A. M. Morice (Ruatoria), Mrs T. G. Steele (Opotiki) and Mrs J. G. Irving (Blenheim) . There are 26 grandchildren. Messrs lan B. Gow (Edgecumbe), G. O. Murray (Thornton), G. J. 'Murray (Otakiri) and W. J. Murray (Otakiri) are. all nephews.