OBITUARY

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 1, 3 January 1939, Page 4

OBITUARY

MR. JOSIAH BALLANTYNE1

The death occurred iri Christchurch on Thursday of Mr. Josiah Ballantyne, who was for long associated with the firm of J. Ballantyne and Company, ; Ltd., states the "Press." Mr. Ballantyne, who had been ailing for some tjme^was 83 years of age. The eldest son of John Ballantyne, founder of the firm, Mr. Ballantyne - was born in ' Adelaide, and was educated at St. Peter's College and Prince Albert College, later going t0..: a college at Taunton, In Somerset. His father came to New Zealand in 1871, and a year later arrived in Christchurch and took-over Dunstable House,' then an established drapery firm. , His son Josiah served an extensive apprenticeship to the trade and worked in various parts of the Pominion and also in England-' In 1879, Mr. John : Ballantyne transferred the control of the business to five partners, and the ■ founder, who was an enthusiastic agriculturist^ took up farming at Rakaia. . lie died in 1899. Soon: after the partnership wag created, Mr. Josiah Ballantyne became senior partner, pnd his : brother, Mr. William Baßantyne, became managing director. Mr. Thorne Ballantyne, another brother, was also in the business. ' Until his1 retirement several years ago Mr. Ballantyne took an active interest in the development of the firm, and its aff airs still interested him until he died. He made many friends both in jthe commercial and social life of the city. An enthusiastic organist, he had his own instrument. His musical associations were wide and, besides, being prominent' in musical societies, he was for 28 years a member , of the Cathedral Choir. In 1885 Mr. Ballantyne married Miss ' Jessie Haynes, daughter of bMr. Daniel : Haynes> of the Dunedin drapery firm jof Herbert Haynes. ahd Company. He 'is survived by Mrs. Ballantyne, two ' sons, Messrs J. M. and K. W. \ Ballantyne, of Christchurch, and a daughter. > bMrs. K. B. Burns, Mount Ross,'Central Otago. His second \ son, Cyril 11. Ballantyne, was killed hi the Great War.