OBITUARY

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 104, 23 December 1931, Page 5

OBITUARY

(Press. Assn.-

MR. F. CARR ROLLETT NOTED AGRICULTURAL WRITER

— By Telegraph — Copyright)

AUCKLAND, Tuesday. The death occurred to-day of Mr. Frederick Carr Rollett, aged 70 years. For 33 years the late Mr. Carr Rollett was agricultural editor of the "New Zealand Herald" and "Auckland Weekly News."

Mr. Carr Rollett was born in England in 1858 and went with his brother to Australia 40 years ago, where he became one of the pioneers of Queensland. Finding conditions in the subtropies too strenuous, he decided to come to New Zealand and 35 years ago he became interested in the settlement of the land' about Matamata then held by the Assets Realisation Board. Mr. Wilson, one of the owners of the "New Zealand Herald," deputed Mr. RoTTett to make investigations at Matamata regarding the lands suitablity for closer settlement. and after making a. close investigation he advised in favour of closer settlement, a policy to which the Government was at that time strenuously opposed. A number of years ago Mr. Carr Rollet became very interested In the possibilities of the pumice country. In this respect he never wavered and maintained on all occasions that -the pumice country would come into its own when it was better understood and when the people knew how to

apply the working knowledge they had acquired. Mr. Carr Rollet's two hobbies were angling and gardening. A keen angler, he had fished from the North Cape to the Bluff in almost all the rivers and streams in New Zealand and his hook, "Angling in New Zealand," has become a standard on the subject.

Following up his hobby, as recently as the middle of October, he was fishing in the Okoroire district. While there he was overtaken by illness and he was brought to Rotorua. After two weeks' treatment in hospital he was sufiiciently recovered to return to Auckland. He never fuRy regained his former health, however, and before hi's death wrote farewell letters to friends in Rotorua, realising that the end was approaching. As a writer Mr. Rollett was admired and respected by all with whom he came in contact both for his profound knowledge and his praetical experience. As agricultural editor of the "New Zealand Herald" and "Weekly News" he did some of his finest work. His death will be greatly felt by his many . friends who knew him not only as writer, pioneer, and traveller, but also as a splendid and versatile companion.