Obituary

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 34, 2 April 1948, Page 4

Obituary

CHARLES EDMUND KUSABS The death occurred at the Arikikapakapa club-house on Thursday, March 25 of Mr Charles Edmund Kusabs, an old resident of Rotorua, and one of the pioneer motorists of New Zealand. The late Mr Kusabs collapsed at 3.30 p.m. while practising on the golf course, and was taken to the club-house. ' The late Mr Kusabs was born in 1872 at Ohaupo. At the age of 21 with his late brother Ernest, he ran Kusabs’ Bros, sawmill at Mamaku. Together they built the bridge over the Ohau Channel. He started a sawmill on the site at present occupied by the Rotorua Furnishing Co.’s factory and it was his steam engine which was used to drive pumps to lower the water in drains to enable the first sewerage and drainage scheme to be laid. In 1908, the late Mr Kusabs envisioned the possibilities of motor travel and entered into competition with horse-drawn vehicles. The Six Lakes trip was originated by him as the Four Lakes trip, the other spots' being added as roads improved. The one-day Taupo trip was also pioneered by him and he drove the first car to ‘negotiate Ngongotaha Mountain.

In the field of sport deceased was well-known and nothing could have pleased him better than the manner of his passing among friends on the course which he assisted materially in founding. He'won the Golf Club’s championship on many occasions, and last year he was successful in winning the Whangarei veterans’ tournament. As a bowler, he, with the late Mr J. MacFarlane, won the Rotorua pairs annual championship. He has also won the doubles at one of the Rotorua tournaments. He was a first-class shot in the early days, and took part in many open day competitions. He was a Charter member of both the Rotorua Masonic Lodge and Chapter. He is survived by his widow, by the only son of his first marriage, Mr P. A. Kusabs, of Wylie Street, by two daughters of his second marriage Elaine and Loma, also his five step-children Dennis, Greta, Ronald, Selwyn and Kenrick. The funeral which took place on Saturday was largely attended.