DEATH OF EARLY SETTLER

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22507, 15 September 1938, Page 7

DEATH OF EARLY SETTLER

MR ARTHUR BARKER, OF WINCHESTER LAST SURVIVING PASSENGER BY CHARLOTTE JANE The death occurred early yesterday morning of Mr Arthur Llewellyn Barker at his, home, “Wainui,” Winchester, South Canterbury. Mr Barker was the last surviving passenger by the Charlotte Jane, one of the First Four Ships, and the last surviving son of Dr. A. C. Barker. He was in his ninetieth year. Mr Barker was born in England at Matlock Bath, Derbyshire, on August 28, 1849, the third son of Dr. and Mrs Barker, and he was .thus an infant little more than a year old when the Charlotte Jane arrived in Lyttelton. When Dr. Barker and his family had crossed, the hills and reached the site of the city, they settled close to where Cathedral square now is, on the land at present occupied by the offices of the Christchurch Gas Company. Mr Arthur Barker was sent to Christs College, where he was one of the first pupils. With his brothers, when he was. about 17 years of age, Mr Barker took, up the large block of land known as the Ohapi station, extending from Orari through Winchester and down to the sea. After several years the block was divided up into the estates of Ohapi, Wainui (Mr Arthur Barker’s property), Korari and Riverslea. , In the seventies Mr Barker founded the South Canterbury Hunt, of which he was the first Master and owner of the beagles—the hunt was later conducted with hounds. He was for many years master of the Geraldine Beagle Club. After his marriage, Mr Barker gave up the management of the hunt, which he handed over to the Elworthy family. For a time he was interested in racing, and was the owner of Daddy Longlegs, which won the Grand National in 1890 and is regarded as one of the finest steeplechasers ever raced in New Zealand. 1 . , . Mr Barker was the first importer of Romney Marsh sheep and Devon cattle into New Zealand, and he won many prizes for these at Christchurch and Timaru shows. In 1903 he subdivided and let the greater part of the Wainui property, and in later years he took little part in outside activities. For the last five or six years of his life failing health kept him in retirement; but the love and respect felt for him in the district were undiminished to the end. ' v ■ _ He married Helen Margaret Gray, daughter of the Hon. Ernest 'Gray, of Hoon Hay. He is survived by his wife, four sons and a daughter. The sons are Mr W E. Barker (Mount Harper, Peel Forest), Mr H. M. Barker (Ben McLeod station. Peel. Forest), Colonel R. E. Barker, Royal Signals, attached to the Northern Command, at York, England, and Mr N. G. Barker (Winchester). The daughter is Miss Mary Barker, Wainui, Winchester. The funeral will be to-morrow afternoon at tbje Barbadoes Street cemetery, where the graveside service will be taken by the Rev. Otho Fitz Gerald. There will be a brief memorial service at Winchester in the morning.