OBITUARY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10228, 3 May 1911, Page 5

OBITUARY.

MR E. J. RIDDIFORD.

A private message received in Maßterton last evening announced the somewhat sudden death at Palmerston North, yesterday afternoon, of Mr E, J. Riddiford, the well-known Wairarapa, Hutt, and West Coast settler. A Press Association message from Palmerston states that the cause of death was heart failure. The deceased had been ailing for some time, But latterly had rallied. A grand-nephew (Basil Foster Pratt) died at eight o'clock yesterday morning from appendicitis ,after a very brief illness. The news of his death came as a shock to Mr Riddiford, who expired at two o'clock in the afternoon. The late Mr Riddiford was a son of the late Mr Daniel Riddiford, who arrived in Wellington by the ship Adelaide in 1839, bringing in sections the first house that was erected at Pipitea Point. His mother used to write the despatches for the New Zealand Company. The deceased, who was born at the Lower Hutt <in 1842, was the first child baptised by Bishop Selwyn in New Zealand, and was educated primarily in Wellington, and secondarily at Morrison's Scotch College in Melbourne. Brought up to farming pursuits, he never deserted his calling, prod, at the time of his death, was x be ownrr of the Te Awaite station, in the Lower Valley, and several othfr estates on the West Coast, at the X<ower Hutt, and elsewhere. He was reputedly the wealthiest man in New Zealand, and paid an enormous sum annually in land and income tax. He took a'keen interest an farming, and managed his own estates until th? last. In the earlier days he took an interest in local politics, and served for a time on the W«,:rf»rnpa. South County Council. He also took a part in defence matters, and served as a lieutenant in the militia under the late Colonel Gorton. He took an active interest in the formation of the now defunct Agricultural and Pastoral Association, and was one of its Vir»-Pr.'sidents. As a breeder of .'" cattlp. he w:»s of the most sue-' : oesFvfnl in tjhf". Bominnon. In 1879. V*' vh.o ! to of the " late Mr Henry Bunny,,of the Waiira- ; rapa. He leaves a grown-up family *.of sons and daughters. The remains of the deceased will W; taken to the Lower Hutt for interment.