OBITUARY

Lake County Mail, Issue 18, 24 September 1947, Page 5

OBITUARY

Mr S. S. Aburn

Mr Stephen Samuel Aburn, whose death at the age of 78 years, occurred at his residence, Hallenstein street, Queenstown, last Thursday, was well-known in the town. A 'native of Enfield, England, Mr Aburn was the eldest son of the late Mr and Mrs Samuel Aburn. He came to New Zealand with his parents when quite a young man and the family settled in Dunedin where he engaged in contracting work with his father. His first big job was the construction of the the Presbyterian church at Kaikorai Valley. In 1908 he was foreman of works at Seacliff and then was engaged by the Dunedin City Corporation on the hydro-electric power house at Waipori and other constructional work. Appointed in 1911 by the Public Works Department as bridge overseer, Mr Aburn was placed in charge of such important works as the Lower Shotover bridge (after the first pier fell into the river), Rees and Earnslaw bridges Head of Lake, ' Edith Gavel bridge, Arthurs Point and the Kawarau Stalls Dam. He was also engaged in several road works. In, all these undertakings he showed marked ability. In his earlier days Mr Aburn was a member of several societies and was interested in rifle shooting and the volunteer movement. During his early residence in Queenstown he did a considerable amount of supervisory work in the building trade. He was a member of the borough council for twelve years during which period he gave valuable service on the works committee. Married twice, Mr Aburn had a family of three sons and three daughters by his first wife (nee Bessie Davies) who died in 1932. Of these four, two married daughters live in Dunedin; his eldest son, Ered Samuel Aburn is deputy-commissioner in the Income Tax Department, Wellington, and another son, Stephen, occupies a Government position in Wellington. Mr Aburn is also survived by four brothers and four sisters out of a family of 14. The funeral took place on Saturday. The Rev. P. Anderson officiated at the service at St. Andrew’s Church and at the Queenstown Cemetery. Messrs S. Felix Aburn (Dunedin) and Fred Aburn and son (Invercargill) were present at the graveside.