MR. ANDREW CHRISTIE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 173, 9 August 1937, Page 10

MR. ANDREW CHRISTIE

f The death occurred on Thursday last of one of the older generation of New Zealand settlers in the person of Mr Andrew Christie, of Napier. Mr Christie was born at "Adniston," the family estate hear Tranent, Edinburgh. One of a family of five, the late Mr Christie arrived in New Zealand with his parents in the sailing ship Hermione in 1880, the voyage occupying six monthst during which time no land of any kind, was seen. Before changing family fortunes 'brought liim to New Zealand, Mr Christie was well on the way towards completing his chosen career — that of a naval Cngineer. As a naval cadet he lived on the old wooden battleship H.M.S. Marlborough moored at Portsmouth, and studies were carried on at the Royal Naval Collego ashore. Some advanced work was carried out by the cadets, whose workshops turned out certain parts for the original engines of the Royal yachfc Victoria and AlBert, Mr Christie himeelf turning out on the lathe a set of oilers for these engines. . His engineering training was of value to him in later life as a pioneer in New Zealand. When the family arrived at Dunedin in 1880 Mr Christie was 16 years of age. The family commeneed farming at Dipton, in Southlandf, founding a homestead which they called "Glencairn." They built their own house from timber milled in Southland. In those days there vras no frozen mcat trade, and farming was an arduous life of agriculture. In 1892 Mr ChriBtie married Miss Lillian Kenrick, daughter of Mr Harry Henrick, Warden an.d Magiatrate of the Thames. After the death of his father he carried on *' Glencairn" for some years but ultimately sold it and acquired Dunrobin Station (Mossburn) from 1907 to 1914. When thish property was sold, owing to subdivision legislation the family acquired Tukituki, near Havelock North, where they lived unlil the end of 1918, when Mr Christie refejred to Napier. Some six weeks ago he unfortunately contracted a chill, which tiirned to pneumonia and carried him oif in hif 75th year. The late Mr Christie had been a resident on the Bluff Hill for the last 19 years, and^his maia pastime latterly had been liowling, During this year he had been made a vice-pre.sident of the Bluff Hill Bowling Oluo* He had also been a vice-president of th® Wutsonian Society, being an old boy of.John Watson's College, Edinburgh. Tvr'He-iSJSU^vived b-y his wifeJ his sister. Mrs Roderxck McKenzie, of Tauranga-' an elder brother, Mr John Christie of Hamilton; his daughter, Mrs J. D. Mitchell, of Whangarei; and two sons, D,r. Kenrick Christie, of Wanganui, and ATr Andrew Christie, of Whangarei