OBITUARY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 2 January 1931, Page 2

OBITUARY

MR R. CAMPBELL ELLIS

The death occurred of Gordon Downs on Wednesday afternoon of Mr Richard Campbell Ellis at the advanced age of 82.

For many years the late Mr Ellis has lived on his farm at Gordon Downs —a portion of an estate of 20,000 acres or more which was taken up about 1800 by the late Captain Wilbore Ellis, of the Indian Army, in partnership with Mr Gordon Greenwood. At the same time a large block of freehold was acquired from Mr Robert Hooker in the Motueka Valley. Later another block was purchased by the late Mr Ellis who bought the whole estate from the several partners in 1874. After about twenty years he sold the major portion of the land, retaining the block in Gordon Downs.

Mr Ellis went to live in Stoke a few years ago but soon returned to Gordon Downs, where he remained in active work to the time of his death. He devoted much of his time in later years to stud sheep breeding in which he met with considerable success.

The late Mr Ellis in his young days was an enthusiastic cricketer and was an interested spectator at all the big matches in Nelson from the early days. On the occasion of the visit of an English team of some fifty years ago his special knowledge was sought in the preparation of a new cricket field. He was also a keen chess player. The late Mr Ellis, who will be much missed by his many friends in both town and country, leaves a widow, one son, Mr E. C. Ellis, of Nelson-, and two daughters.