OBITUARY.

■ ■■■■ ■' •. ■ -— — L - ♦- — • ' : SAMUEL GARFORTH.

The death of Mr Samuel Garforth occur-, red at A© Strathmore Private Hospital at 7p.in. yesterday, after a short but painless illness, the result of paralysis, with which he wag seized at the Addington market on Wednesday. He was promptly removed from the saleyards in a cab to the hospital above mentioned * where every potsible attention, medical and otherwise, was provided for him.' This was not the first paralytic attack he had suffered from, one having occurred about two years ago. Mr Garforth was a native of York^birey having been born near Halifax irf tfie I year lß3*}. His father was a farmer, and he himself began his education at Popple and completed it at Illingworth. After this, and till he was twenty years of age, he devoted him-, self to agricultural pursuits. He failed for Wellington in the barque Alceste, and turned -his attention to the Otago diggings, where ho dealt in stock and opened up several butchers' shops. In 1865 he went to the West Coast diggings, and, with the late Mr John Morrison, conducted an extensive stock-dealing and butchering trade business. He remained on the coast until 1870, when he purchased Spreydon Lodge, where he has resided ever since. In that year he-mar-ried a daughter of the late Mr P. Hanoon, Melbourne. His family numoered &vt> daughters, all of whom are living. Mrs Gaxforth died in ,1894, since which, time the;' daughters, have kept Jtbe home for. their father. \ Mr ' .Garforth. was a tyjrical YorkshiTe farmer, and in Oanterburv establislied stud flocks of -English Leicesterfand South Down sheep that have been sought for far and near, and have done much. towards the improvement of those breeds of sheep in this colony. As an exhibitor at the snows 'his sheep were seldom awarded second prizes, but .more often championship anedajs; He was one of the best, buyers of cattle in the. South Island. He was connected with, the Canterbury 'Agricultural and Pastoral Association ■ for 1 over twenty-seven years, and toe spared neither himself, his stock nor his cheque-book to, make the Metropolitan Show what it has become. When the export frozen meat was mooted, Mr Garforth was one of the first to take up whatwas then a risky venture, and subsequently assisted to promote the Belfast Freezing Works, and was! a director of the Canterbury Frozen Meat and; Dairy Produce Company from its inoeption. He likewise took a lively interest in sport, and was a lifemember of the Canterbury Jockey Club. He was a member of the Halswell Road Board, and for. several years held the position of chairman, and also, for many years was a member and sometime chairman of the Spreydon School Committee.