OBITUARY

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22514, 23 September 1938, Page 3

OBITUARY

MR J. STEEL Mr Joseph Steel, an old colonist and the founder of one of the leading coach-building factories of the early days of Canterbury, died recently in his eighty-fifth year at his residence, “Coverham,” Spreydon.

Mr SJeel was born at Bingley, near Leeds, in Yorkshire, in 1854, and when 10 years old he came out to Bendigo, Victoria, with his mother, to join his father. The father was killed in his mine, and the widow with her nine children came to Christchurch in 1870. Mr Steel and his brother, David Steel, were taken on as apprentices by Mr A. G. Howland, a well-known coach-

builder, in Christchurch. In 1878. Mr Steel started a coach-building business of his own in Lincoln road, using a sod hut for his first workshop. Later his brother David joined him, and they founded the firm of Steel Brothers, which attained a reputation throughout the Dominion and beyond it for sound and skilful craftsmanship. Mr Steel made a great number of friends; but his business pursuits allowed him no time for active public affairs. He was a devoted member of the Methodist Church; first in St. Asaph street, in the Rev. Mr Hosking’s time, and later in the Union Mission Church, in Durham street. In 1881, Mr Steel married Miss Frances Elizabeth Clarkson, the youngest sister of the Clarkson brothers, a family of well-known sheep-dealers. Mrs Steel died in 1929.

With the change in the mode of transport, when the motor-car began

to succeed the gig and the buggy, the Steel brothers changed their industry to meet the new demand. Mr Steel is survived by four daughters and one son. They are Mesdames Nelson (Timaru), Cook (Walton, Waikato), Floyd (Rotorua), Miss Annie E. Steel (Spreydon), and Mr George Bowes Steel (Christchurch), wh6 is now manager of Steel Brothers. There are three brothers and one sister living, Messrs Frank H. Steel (Christchurch), John Steel (Taranaki), W. Steel (Spreydon), and Mrs G. Marshall (Christchurch).

There was a large number of mourners at the burial, which took place at the family plot in the Halswell cemetery. The Rev. F. B. Lawrence, the Rev. W. Grigg, and the Rev. N. Friberg officiated.

MR A. H. WHEELER The death has occurred of Mr A. H. Wheeler, of Mill Farm, Styx, Main North road. He had not been in good health for some time, but his illness took a sudden turn for the worse on Saturday, and his death occurred last evening. He was in his eighty-first year.

Mr Wheeler was a native of Wiltshire. and left soon after his marriage in 1883 for Lyttelton, arriving at the beginning of 1884. He was a stonemason by trade, and for some years after his arrival he was engaged in this work in the Motukarara district. Later he undertook contracting work, and with a partner (Mr Place) constructed the present Akaroa wharf. When the railway was being constructed from Stillwater to Reefton he carried on contracting work ■ for the Government oh culvert construction, and for some years later continued at this work on the Otira-Stillwater section of the Midland railway. He was the leading advocate of the acquisition by the Government of the Rotomanu block of land for closer settlement, and was one of the original 20 settlers. He was regarded in the district as a most progressive and up-to-date farmer. He introduced the first Jersey cattle to the West Coast, and, also was the first to demonstrate the value of ensilage. He took a keen interest in mineralogy, and was with the noted geologist. Mackintosh Bell, when tlie latter discovered the nephritic deposit (greenstone) in the Mount Griffin district. This deposit was worked for some time before the war, but the work ceased shortly after its commencement. For some time Mr Wheeler, after drawing his section at Rotomanu. worked on the railway extension towards Cheviot, and was a witness of the alarming earthquake there. He then commenced actively farming his Rotomanu property, where he resided for more than 20 years, retiring and coming to Christchurch about 19 years ago. He resided at Shirley for some years, and 13. years ago started farm-

ing at the Styx, but relinquished active work some time ago. It was as an advocate of lucerne growing and as a specialist in that plant that Mr Wheeler had much more than a provincial reputation. He had an exceptionally keen sense in general plant raising, but specialised in lucerne, and was probably a world authority on the plant. About 14 years ago he commenced breeding a new strain (now known as Tivacata), a type with, markedly different characteristics to the one in general use, and within the last year or two he received _ many letters from different countries asking for information concerning it. A legion of friends in Canterbury and on the West Coast will regret to hear of Mr 'Wheeler’s death. He is survived by his widow and three of a family—Messrs Ernest (Papanui), Albert (Motukarara), and Mrs J. Hart (Christchurch).