OBITUARY

Southland Times, Issue 24235, 19 September 1940, Page 6

OBITUARY

MR C. E. RICHARDSOK One of Wellington’s best-knowr business men, Mr Charles E. Richardson, died suddenly in his office or Monday. He was 71 years old. Mr Richardson was the third son of the Hon. Edward Richardson, C.M.G.. M.L.C., a Londoner who became very well known in New Zealand as a contractor for important railway works and later as a politician. The Hon. Edward Richardson’s firm constructed the Lyt-telton-Christchurch railway, including the Moorhouse tunnel. Christchurch was Mr Richardson’s birthplace, and he was educated at the Christchurch Boys’ High School and at Wellington College. He was trained as a railway engineer, but later he became a dredge master and operated gold dredges in Central Otago and a'. Murchison. He then went to Australia and South Africa, where with Mr D. K. Blair, of Wellington, he designed dredges, including some of the first tin dredges used in Malaya. Early' in the present century Mr Richardson and Mr Blair returned to Wellington and began the'engineering and importing firm which is now known as Richardson, McCabe and Company Ltd. As a youth Mr Richardson was a first-class Rugby footballer and an oarsman of note. While only 16 or 17 he represented Wellington as half-back against a New South Wales fifteen, being one of the youngest, if not the youngest, ever to achieve that honour. He represented the province several times and was captain of the Wellington Football Club. He rowed for the Star Boating Club. Mr Richardson is survived by his ■widow and one daughter, Mrs E. T. Benson, who lives in England. MR PERCY PEASE (Received September 17, 11.30 p.m.) BRISBANE, September 17. The death has occurred of Mr Percy Pease, Deputy-Premier and Minister of Lands since 1931.