A N.Z. PASTORALIST.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 November 1918, Page 8

A N.Z. PASTORALIST.

LATE MR A. W. RUTHERFORD. Mr. Andrew William 'Rutherford, e x - M.P. for Hurunui, and one of the best known pastoralists in New Zealand, is dead, at the age of 70 years. Born in New Sontli Wales, late Mr Rutlierford was educated at Adelaide,, and arrived at "Lyttelton in 1860 with his parents, who bought the Lesjie Hills Estate, and of wlhieli he was manager until he became proprietor of "Mendip Hills" in >ISGI. Taking a keen interest in. the Merino breed of sheep, he was a frequent and successful exhibitor at shows. His belief in the Merino was exhibited when in 1891 lie purchased "Fame," a stud merino ram, from Mr Alex. Murray, of Mt. Crawford, South Australia, at a cost of 500 guineas. Mr Rutherford always took a keen interest in local government, and was chairman of the Anmri Road Board before that body became merged in the Amuri County Council, and was an original member, and for some years chairman of the Cheviot County Council. He was also a member of the North Canterbury Charitable Aid Board. In 1902 fhe aspired to a seat in the House of Representatives, and scored an easy victory over four other candidates, and represented Hurunui until 190 S. Mr Ruthcrford was a gentleman of the old type of- 1 settler —of a kindly, generous personality, a man whose central ideas wa9 to develop tho country of his adoption and its resources on the most up-to-date lines, and, in consequence, a man who always took the keenest interest in all that concerned the primary products of the Dominion. He was one of tho leading benefactors of the Presbyteriari Boys' College, Chriatcliurch, and the Amuri Presbyterian Church. Ho leaves a family of live-sons and four daughters. —Exchange.