OBITUARY.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 27 March 1926, Page 5

OBITUARY.

MR ROBERT KERAIODE SMITH. . Ou Thursday, February 18 there passed away at Dunedin Air Robert Keiniode Smith, one of Otago s leadmc sheep farmers. His death is a great loss not only to the district m which he lived during recent years, hut to Dm Dominion as a whole, lor lus knov ledge of the fine woolled breeds of sheep, Merino and Corricdale, was prolound. Ho was ever ready to impart lus knowledge not only to his neighbours who .sought and grcatlv appreciated Ins advice, hut also to hosts of others mostly ot the vowijicr generation, to whom he o<\t \ endeared' himself. Many of the vouug men who received their training lion him and learnt his methods ol sheep .station management and farming in general—for he was a skilled larnici land an enthusiastic (instructor, e.iv now to he numbered amongst the most successful and progressive of the. young farmers of this country and ol otlioi countries in which they have settled. The following facts about Air Smith s career and family may he ot inteiesl. Air Smith, who was horn m the Mackenzie County. South Canterbruy m 18/ A was the sixth soil ol the late Mr A. Smith, himself a sheen farmer, and was educated in Timaru. His lirst training in country life, lie received on Jus J'aiiior's .station, but in IbiJO, in uuloi to gain further experience on a larger scale, he entered Die service, ol -Messrs R. Campbell and Sons, whose Benmore station in the Uppi".- AVaitaki A allev was one of the largest stations m the South Island. At Beiimore lie remained for about four years, during which period the station was under the. manicemenl of the late Air Thus. Middle'ton. Subsequently Air Smith was on a. North Island station for a short time. In 1891 lie was appointed h.v -Messrs Dnlgetv and Co., Ltd., as manager o. the late Air Christopher Basstian s Dunrnbiu station, in Southland, anil .shortly afterwards this company placed some other stations in the same district under his management as well. I'or a brief period Air Smith managed the Gore branch of Messrs Dalgety anil Co., Ltd., and in 1906 this company appointed him to the management el their famous Alorven Hills sti\ti<in in the Tarras district of Central' Otago. 'l'llis position lie held until the subdivision of the property in February ot 1910. . Whilst managing that station lie pmchased on liis own account. Air James Hie ton’s Black Forest station m the Mackenzie County, and later on lie bought out the late Mr John M Kaos farm at Tarras. A little later lie acquired the ('laden block ol Alorven Mills station. In the intervening period lie disposed of Black Forest station and after that he purchased the arras homestead block, which adjoined lus previous purchase ol the late Mr John A!’Hue's farm. Altei' the development of his irrigation scheme at Tarras. about two years a-«>. he subdivided ;md sold a/I his properties in that district. Negotiations for the purchase of another pronerfi were in progress at the date ol Alt Smith's decease. , ~ Air Smith married a daughter ol the late Air J. Cotton Rowley, o Hamilton station (Central Otago) and Avondale station (Southland). Mns lady died a few years ago. 'Hie family surviving are three daughters. Airs llvile (Timburn station 1, Aliss Gri.se.Kiu Smith, and Aliss Prudence, and two sous. Thomas, who is learning sooep fanning with Air I). Jardine, ol Kauarau Falls and Glencoe stations and Robert, who is at the \\ aitaki High School. ,