OBITUARY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 58, 21 March 1944, Page 3

OBITUARY

MR SAMUEL DARRAGH

The dcatli of Mr Samuel Darragh •which occurred at Te Awamutu, rcanoves one who was closely identified. with the farming life of the Tauranga district for nearly sixty years., He was born in Belfast, Ireland, and Avas the youngest .son of Mr and Mrs William Darragh. He came to I\~cw Zealand when an infant, his parents coming immediately to Tauranga. He attended the local district high .school and early associated himself Avith farming activities. He Avas an outstanding judge of ihorscs and for many years was a large buyer of horses at Bay of Plenty fairs, the horses afterwards being driven to and sold in the WaiJuito. Similarly he Avas a big purchaser of cattle at .sales in the Wailcato and Bay of Plenty and travelled this class of stock over the Raima i and Thompson's Tracks. Many ■well-performed racehorses carried his colours to A'ictory over numerous courses throughout the Dominion. His most notewothy performer Avas Kaitere, Avhich was acknowledged to be the greatest .steeplechaser ol his <lay in New Zealand.

Mr Darragh was a line athlete in Jlis younger days and was. also a keen footballer, who represented Tauranga on the Rugby field for some years. To him may be given the credit of being the most successful exhibitor of horses, that the Bay has seen, hundreds of prizes coming to him at Katikati. Taiiranga, Te Puke, "Whakatane, Opotiki, Rotorua and Waikato agricultural shows. It was Mr®Darragh who initiated, the Meets of the AVaikato hounds at Tauranga and it was mainly through his efforts that many visitors from Auckland, AVaikato and Rotorua attended these Meets, which were just as

popular as a race, meeting. All through life Mr Darragh took a keen interest in farming and sport ar.d his long association with the activities noted above will long be remembered bv all who knew him.

He is .survived by Mrs Darragh, Miss J„. Darragh, and one brother, Mr William Darragh ol' Otumoetai. The funeral took place at Te Awamutu on Monday. The mourners inchuled many old friends from the Tauranga and Waikato districts, the service at the graveside being conducted by the Rev, H. Orchard, ofthe Presbyterian Clmrcli.