OBITUARY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 4 August 1913, Page 5

OBITUARY.

MR ROBERT SMITH. It is with sinttore regret that we record the death of Mr Robert ("Kiltie") Smith, which occurred at his home at Onslow Park, Hamua, on Saturday last, after a protracted illness, at the age of sixty-six years. The late Mr Smith was bom in Abernethy, Strathspey, Invernesshire, Scotland, on September 15th, 1847. He was educated principally at the grammar school in his native township. At the age of fifteen, he was employed on the Seafield estates as a. gamekeeper, and five years later was head gamekeeper on one of the sporting estates in the district. Strong and active from childhood, he soon developed into one of the leading athletes in Scotland. He was foremost in all the Caledonian games, and was especially clever as one of Scotland's champion, sword dancers. For dancing alone he gained fiftythree first prizes, all within five years of his leaving for this Dominion in 1874. In that year he arrived at Auckland, per "Hylton Castle," his destination being Hawke's Bay, where he filled an engagement as- a destroyer of wild dogs. For about twelve years he held the position of manager of Mr G. I>. Hamilton's Maungatoro estate. After a few years' residence in Napier, where he was the popular host of a leading hotel, ho purchased the estate in the Forty-Mile Bush, which he named Onslow Park in honour of the them Governor. As a stock-breeder, Mr Smith became well-known throughout the North Island. It was, however, as an out-and-out Scotchman that Mr Smith was most familiarly. known. For years he was a prominent figure at the gatherings of the Wairarapa and other Caledonian Societies. He was one of the promoters -of the Hawke's, Bay Caledoniam Society. Since his arrival in the Forty-Mile Bush he hag taken an active, interest in all forms of sport, and in local government affairs. He was for a time chairman of the Pahiatua County Council. He was also president of the Pahiatua Burns Club, the Pahiatua Racing Club, and the Bush Rugby Union, besides being a member of the committee of the Masterton A. and P. Association and the Pahiatua-Akitio A. and P. Association. He leaves a widow and gix sons, all of whom,are well-known in football" and other circles. The death of Mr Smith will be regretted throughout the whole of the Wairarapa, Forty-Mile Bush, and Hawke's Bay districts.