THE LATE MR G. G. STEAD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 111, 1 May 1908, Page 2

THE LATE MR G. G. STEAD.

For Press Association. Christchurcli, Last Night. Flags at most of the business places 11 the city were down at half-mant tolay as a mark of respect to the memory uf the late Mr. Stead. Numerous telegrams of sympathy niul expressing appreciation of the, worth of {lie (ieeeaseil gentleman have lieea received ai, tin"l'i'css" ojlice throughout the day from all parts of the Dominion. The messages include communications of condolence from the chairman of directors and from the manager of the Press Association, as well ns from newspaper proprietors and staffs in different New I Zealand centres. Tlie meeting of the Christeiiureli Tramway Board (of which tlu* late Mr. Stead was one of the earliest and prominent memibers), which was to have been held to-morrow afternoon, will be adjourned till next (lay, it being the intention of all the members of the board, together with the principal ollicen-, to attend the fuiVeral. The late Mr. (!. 0. Stead was born in London in 1841, and in 181!) accompanied his parents to South Africa, where he completed his education at St. Andrew's College. In 1805 he returned to Knglamt, but, on the recoiniuendnI inn of till' late Lord Lyttclton and Mr, Jlenrv Selfc Selfe, from whom ho brOnglit letters of introduction, he decided to settle in Sew Zealand, when, he arrived in 18(i(i, in which year hj( joined tli'e staff of the Union Bank o: Australia in Christchurch. Finding in sufficient scope for his energy and enter _

prise, in. 1870 he joined tlie late Ml'. Royse in business under the title of Ro'yse, Stead and Co., export merchants, I which business he controlled, although there were various change*) in its personnel, until he decided, in January, 11)03, after thirty-three years of strenuous work, to r'etire. Tn 1881 Mr. Stead revisited England and formed the Grain. Agency Company. In. addition to holdtlie position of chairman and honorary treasurer of the Canterbury Jockey Club, Mr, Stead held the following appointments:—Chairman of Directors of the Christchui-cli iPress Company, of Manning and Co., of the Christchurch Ga fi Company, of Warner's Limited, of the Blackball Coal. Company, deputychairman of the Alliance Assurance Company, director of Mason, Struthers, Limited, director of the New Zealand Shipping Company. He tilled the position of president of the (.'liristchurch Chainlier of Commerce in 1880, 1885, and 188 IS. He was one of the governors ol the Canterbury College from 1801 to 1899, when he resigned Mr. Stead initiated iu 1872 the movement which resulted in the formation of the Canterbury Club, one of the most successful ; residential clubs in New Zealand. Us was elected to the Tramway Board In ' 1903. In 1000 the Government appointed him chairman of the Royal Commi-v simi -of Canterbury to receive the Duke and Duchess of York. In the world of sport Mr. Stead was perhaps the most prominent figure in New Zealand. ll.' was a breeder and buyer of the best horses which have ever run in New Zealand.