Obituary

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 15, Issue 48, 24 May 1950, Page 5

Obituary

MR WILLIAM McLEAN

The death has occurred of Mr McLean, Otoko, a wellfigure in the Bay of Plenty, .at the age of 80 years. Born at Waimate, he was the eldest son of the late Mr A. F. McLean, who in 1892 took up the Glenroa property at Otoko, at that time in its virgin state. Here Mr W McLean subsequently spent most of his life.

He was one of the pioneer settlers in the Waioeka Valley, and later was associated with the development of a large block of swamp land on the Rangitaiki Plains, Whakatane. He was for some years a member ,of the Opotiki County Council, and in addition did considerable Government valuation work. With a wide understanding of the Maori people and their culture, he enjoyed the confidence and affection of the older members of the native race. He was a keen student of nature and was possessed of a remarkable knowledge of the flora and fauna of his country. Always a keen horseman, Mr McLean was a well-known steeplechase rider in the early nineties of last century and later was an active member of the Opotiki Racing Club. In recent years he devoted himself largely to -the building up of the high-class Glenroa Stud of Polled Angus cattle.