SIR JOHN ROSS.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18892, 6 January 1927, Page 7

SIR JOHN ROSS.

DEATH AT DUNEDIN.

A GENEROUS BENEFACTOR

[THE FBES3 SpscUl Berries.]

DUNEDIN, January &V The death occurred at hit residency Mor.von, Ncwington avenue, of Sir John Boss, at tho ago of 92. Sir John Bos* was born at Halkirk, Caithness, in the latter part of November, 1834. Afto* several years' apprenticeship in tho drapery business he came Into touch' with New Zealand through joining Messrs Begg, of Golspie. Ono of this. firm, Mr .Robert Bogg, set up business iu Ounodin, and Sir John was cvon-

tually offered a partnership with him. Sir John accepted tho offer, and ia ISOI sailed for New Zealand. At tho end of a year Sir John bought out thai other partners and took into partnership Mr Robert Glendining. The business prospered and in ISO 6 tho part* nersliip sold out their retail bnsinoss to Messrs Brown, Ewhtff and Co., and established their wholesale business iu

Stafford street. In 1870 it liecama necessary that one of tho partners should livo in England in order to bev in close touch with tho markets of the world and it was decided that Sir* John should go. On July Ist, IS7O, ho married Margaret W. Cassclls, a native of Fife*, and the samo day they loft for London, whoro t.hoy resided for the next 3a! years. Tho Golden Jubilee of thoir; wedding when colobrated in 1920 waa tho occasion for many demonstration* of rogard and affection from the employees of the firm. During hit re»i4« enco in London Sir John made fre* quent visits to New Zealand, in th«i course of which he crossed the Equatoif somo 24 times. In 1879 the firm of Boss and Glen*, dining entered upon the business ofli manufacturing. In 1900 it was form* ed into a limited liability company,, with a capital of £600,000. In 1917j Mr Robert Glendining died. The company was subsequently recast in June, 1921, and its capital was increased to tho sum of £1,250,000. At the result of its wonderfully successful enterprise ,the company now gives employment to about 1500 people. For many yoars Messrs ROBS and! Glendining had a sheep station of their, own on which they pastured aboutj 70,000 sheep. Branches of the business now exist in all the chief of New Zealand.

Owing to his long absence from thai Dominion, Sir John Boss did not bocome prominently connected with it« public affairs. Since his return to settle) permanently in Dunedin in 1905, however, Lady Boss and he have actively, interested themselves, not only in the comfort and welfare of their employee* but in the social advancement of the whole community. Many of Sir John's gifts and endowments will remain unknown to the public, but some of them; havo been such as will not be hidden. To Knox College, the magnificent residential and tutorial college of the Prcsbyterian Church of New Zealand, her gave £20,000. Through his gift of! £SOOO the Presbyterian Home for aged! and destitute people, called after Eim. the Ross Home, was established in the; North East Valley some years ago, and gives a home and comfort to overt 50. He founded the Ross Fellowship for historical research which has already produced permanently valuable, results. On the spot on which stood the school in his native Halkirk he erected a, Boss Institute which comprises ft pubHe hall, library, a reading room, an* recreation rooms. To the Y.M.G.A. and Y.W.O.A. Of Dunedin, his doaatioivi have been numerous and generous and it would indeed be difficult to find a thoroughly deserving cause iu the) community thut has not benefited b$ his support. For some years Sir John served on! the Council of the Otago University till advanced ago led to his retirement. Ho was long a valued member of Knox Church. When among the New Yew Birthday Honours of lfiSfi, he received!' the honour of Knighthood from his, Sovereign, it was recognised to be a very fitting recognition of a most bon* ourablo and worthy career. The business which Sir John and art partner built up he has now left in tha hands of a younger generation. Hi* oldest son, Mr J. Sutherland Boss, C.M.G., who was so conspicuously successful as president of the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition, M chairman of directors of the firm. The. second' son, Mr T. O. Boss, i«'director in charge of the mill, and Mr Walter Bobs assists in the management of the mill. Sir John is also survived by Lady Boss, and two unmarried dauga* ters. ■■ *