Obituary

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 22, 17 February 1948, Page 4

Obituary

Mr George C. Lord: Pioneer Of Whakatane

In the recent death of Mr George Clement Lord another link has been severed with the early pioneers of the Whakatane district. Born in 1870 at Christchurch, Mr Lord at an early age took up wheat farming on the Canterbury Plains. In 1891 he came to the Whakatane district with a syndicate of Canterbury settlers to take- up land on what was then known as the Rangitaiki Swamp. Mr Lord,, with other settlers first acquired land near where the Rangitaiki Plains Dairy Factory now stands, but owing to the Government of the day not fulfilling its promise of land drainage all were forced to abandon their sections, most of the settlers returning to Canterbury.

Mr Lord then took up land in the foothills near Awakeri and also took over the management of a block of land owned by the late Mr Gill. Settlement was made difficult in those days by the fact that there were no roads. It took two days to make the return trip between Awakeri and Whakatane to obtain supplies. l Mr Lord was the first to take a plow to the Rangitaiki district. Later, when the Dpouriao estate was cut up ha was successful in drawing a section which he farmed for 40 years.

In his early days Mr Lord was a keen cyclist and before leaving Canterbury contested and won both five mile and fifty mile New Zealand road championships. Trophies inscribed to that effect are in* the family’s keeping today. He was a foundation member of the Whakatane A. and P. Association and a past member of the Taneatua Bowling Club. He took a keen interest in all sport, including cricket and football, and was a keen angler. Ten years ago Mr Lord retired and took up residence in Rotorua. He is survived by his wife, three sons and two daughters, fifteen grandchildren and three great grand-