A STRENUOUS CAREER.

Mr Stead was bom; hi London, in 1841, and cam© from au old Yorkshire family an his father's side, his grandfather boing Mr Mark Stead, of Richmond, Yorkshire. On his mother's side he -was of Scottish descent, fads grandmother being a Fraser, a direct des-, oendant of th© noted Simon Fraser, Lord Lovut, the last man l>eh-o>aded in the Tower of Londoni in the year 1747. Lord LovaA, it will bo romenihored, was one of the Scottish Lords in '45" with Bonnie Prince Chlarlie. This accounts for Mr Stead's selection of has racing "norn do guerrei," Mr Fraser, under which ho raced very successfully in the earlier portion of his racing career. In 1849 'Mr Stead accompanied this tparenste to South Africa, -where ire completed Ms education at St. 'Andrew's CoUoge, Grahamstowzk. Late in. the fifties, when still a lad, he wae successful aa a gentleman rider, and also took an active interest in rifle-dhooting. In 1865 he returned to England, a/nd on I the recommendation: of itJio late Lord Lytfceiton and Mx Homry Selfo, who had been actively and personally connected ifMi Ahc foundation of tho Canterhnry settlement, from whom he brought letters of dmtrodnctkra, he deoided to settle in. Oan-terbury. Accordisnigly foe lef* England in- 1866 in the ship Talbot for Lytt-elton. ShoniJy after his arrival he joined tho staff of the Union Bank of Australia- in Christohurch. Finding insufficient scope for his energy and enterprise in this occupation., he joioed tho late Mr W. fioyse, of Dunedins, in business, and the firm was started ire the grain and export business under the title of Xtoyse, Stead amd. Co. in "the year XS7O, 3k£r Sfcaa<i oordar>lliue tio busnrcss in , Oanterbury. SabeeguenftJy on th« of Mr Roys© he carried on the business hdmaelf under the same title.

In 1881 Mr ISfcead, who was on a viisit to London, euggesfted to his friend, tibe iate Mr Peter Cunningham, witfli whom he had been oa terms of intimate frksndahip since 1865, that as Mr Cuamingiham wished to retire they should sell tfcbeir respective, grain businesses —that of Royse, Stead and Co. and P. Cunningham end Co.—as oarried on by 'them Jvero to an English compamy. Accordingly, in- December, 1881, lie goodwill of itlio reepectivo busincßses was sold to the New Zealand Grain' Agency Company. Tins was a compamy formed in England witfo. a capital of £1,000,000, of trihadh, soon after its formation. £175,000 was caHed up and some £125,000 of debentures were issued for the purpose of making advances in- (the colony' on freehold property. One , of the,conditions of the sale of the businesses was that the "new company should (be satisfied that tihe two tnifiiibesaes had made a net profit, exolusive of all- outgoings and bad debits, of >not kes itihan* £75,000 for-tfhe itihree years ending December. 1881. The English company appointed two local exports to esaonine the books of the businesses, and they certified that the profits for *ho itihree years in question were £112,000, or £37,000 in excess of the stipulated amount. It was arranged that the vendors Elhould receive £30,000 in deben>tures for the goodwill of their businesses, the vendors guaranteeing that the net profits of the company—after paying oil expenses, except directors 1 fees, the salaries of the Advisory Board in New Zealand, and of the managing director and secretary should at any time within three yecrs amounrt to not less than £15,000. As a security for the, "performance of this guarantee," debenture bonds to the value of £15J000 were deposited \ritih the ba-nkors of ifaho company. The New Zoakmd Grain Agency Company was floated, and co groat was the confidence in tho integrity and commercial ability of Mr Cunningham and Mr Stead-, that the colonial applications for shares was phenomenally large. Never in tho history of commercial enterprise here had eb groat a demand for shares been experienced. For tho first year tho business of tho new company was carried on with a great amount of Bi*ccess arad- the London secretary of the company who was sent out to New Zealand certified in January, 1883, that he had gone through the bala-nce-sheet of the company for 1882, and that the profits for the first year, excluding preliminary ; expenses and other items provided for

in the agreement, exceeded £16,000. He also certified that tho guarantee given by -he vendors w-aa cance.led,aJ-d advised that he had cable- to hia directors in London to h___ over th* debentures, which had been retaLn—i as security. Subsequently the b-__ii-e_B of the Grain Agency Company feU upon troublous times. The Now Zealand harvests of 18S2 and 1883 were almost entirely ruined by wot weather, whilst the price of New Zealand wheat in England fell from 56s per quarter at tlie beginning of 1882, to -0100-11018 like 2-5s per quarter at the end cf 1884. This- meant widespread ruia amongst tho farmers, and the company not only lo.Jt- very heavily on its largo shipments of wheat to England, but also through tho inability of farmer 3 to repay tho advances made to them on security of their crops. These losses bo-i-aiiso so serious ilia- the London Board of tlie Grain Ag.ency Company decided to discontinue operations, and advices to that effect wero conveyed to tho Colonial Board. The company'-lo-wes, (however, wero increased to a great extent owing to the London oftwo landing, aajaiiist the advice of t<be Colonial Board, the cargoes of wheat in England, hoping for bettor prices instead of facing the immediate lows, by celling "off coast." Mr Stead, with an amount of • commercial integrity and high mindedness in business matters which should always be remembered, at once acquiesced in a suggestion cabled from England by bis cove odor the late Mr Peter Cun'rungjbaan that they should accept all _he losses on tho wheat cargoes which their company had shipped to England since its formation in 1881. This meant that tho two firms, of which Mr Ct_ux__gl___ . arwi Mr Stead were, respectively, tha heads, accepted a loss which amounted to over £7_,000. This ices wonid, had not these two gentlemen voluntarily and spontaneously accepted l the responsibility, have fallen on the shareholder, ot the company. In addition to this, they, in conjunction with tbe London Board, held one-third of the shares, so that they also lost themselves heavily as shareholders. Sir Horace Da—ay, tho eminent Queen's Counsel, who was consulted on the matter, it may be noted, gave it as his opinion . tihat ineither of 43_e firms was legally or morally liable to the extent of one shilling to. the purchasdng company. Not a penny of the heavy expenses incurred in winding up the company fell on the general public- and m fact it never stopped payment. Every debt was paid in full as it matured, and, --i although the shareholders suffered considerably, a substantial sum "was returned to them, despite the, serious losses in disposing, of the properties and the heavy expenses of liquidation. Such an action- on the part 0f..-.. Mr Stead, as well as. Iris co-vendor (Mr: Peter Cunmngham), pnobabSy stands without para_lal an the couKnexciai annals of the colonies' for ness and uprigjiitaess, "-— It may be added that tie-firm of Geo. G. Stead and Co. was founded in 1870, and in 1897 Mr G. J. F. Palmer was adtaiitited as partner. The bais-rbess was carried on with Mr Stead as the managing partner till 1903, when. ho retired from the business. THE MARITIME STRIKE. It is said, that every great crisis brings forth a man and shows of what he is made. It was the great maritime striko. of 1890 which first brought the late Mr Stead prominently before th* public of New Zealand, and showed them his great determination, power of organisation, business foresight, and high personal courage. The causes which led to the strike aro still fairly fresh in the minds of the public, and the disorganisation of trade, especially of the shipping, trade, is not likely to be Boon forgotten. It —ill be recalled that, owing to an alleged attempt by Australian shipowners to destroy the growing power of the labour unions, a strike was pTodaimed, and the unionists of New Zealand were called upon to "support their fellow unionists, and did, so, both financially ar_l also by going on strike. In Canterbury a deadlock in the shipping of produce to Australia promised to havo far-reach-ing and disastrous results. Mr Stead, - as soon as industrial war was declared, about the end of August, saw- that prompt and energetic measures most be adopted if the fanning community was be saved considerable loss. With other gentlemen interested in the agricultural and pastoral industries, hoimmediately set about providing volunteer or free labour to discharge* and load: vessels at Lyttelton. Fanners .—ere requested to send such labour as they coold to port, «___ eznpl-s—rs in ■___. city -—ere as_e_. to accompany the free labourers to Lyttelton, and by their presence help them m their "work. These appeals were heartily responded to, and many farmers in addition to -ending their employees, went to Lyttelton and worked with them. Mr Stead was the animating and encouraging force during this period. For some time he daily accompanied "the free labourers from. town to the port—a proceeding fraught with considerable rial-, for at that period -feeling ran high and outrages upon the volunteer, or free, labourers were not infrequent. On several occasions Mr Stead was-rabj&et-ed to gross insults -and abuse on "tho Lyttelton wharves by men whose passions had- been aroused by the irritation which naturally springs out of labour troubles of such acutenes. and magnitude, v . .. " Despite theso jeerings' and other expressions of - hostility, Mr "Stead continued his efforts with unabated energy. Throughout he showed a fair-minded-ness which appealed strongly to those capable of taking an unbiased view of matters. In "the, early days of. the trouble lie expressed regret that the Lyttelton lumpers were so foolish as to refuse the work offered them, seeing that they had no" grievance to complain of;. at the same time, he impressed on them tho fact that they must not be surprised if shippers made arrangements for other labour in order to prevent the utter demoralisation of the trade of the province. On another occasion, when present at the loading operations on the Takapuna, Mr Stead explained to a number of-wharf labourers who had been chaffing him that he had no interest whatever in any cargo in the ship, but .that, in the interests of the farmers, it was necessary that their produce should be got away. At. a meeting of shippers and farmers held on board the Tekapo, Mr Stead, in the course of, a speech, freely'admitted the richt of the workers to combine in order to sell their labour in the best market; on the other hand, ho pointed out, it was only fair to. givo the employers equal freedom and to permit volunteer or free labour to work for whom, and: in what mannor, thoy pleased. Continuing, ie said that if the lumpers set Lyttelton- had- any grievance, he would be tho first to have it removed; but they admitted that they were satisfied with wages and their treatment, and that it was only because of tho paid abators, who were misleading instead oi leading them, that all the trouble bid arisen. The situation was one that called foi the exercise of the highest powers ol organisation, and in Mr Stead was found one possessed of tho necessar. qualifications. Fully- recognising th< widespread loss and dislocation o trade that would resnl*. _-_.__ the com plete cessation of the shipment of pro duce, Mr Stead, at th© meeting oi board tho Tekapo.already referred to >. pointed out bow easy it would be t< work the cargo at Lyttelton if al . those interested would organise am would provide relays of men trader th control of a committee. The sugge-tro) was immediately adopted, lists o labourers were handed .in, and M: • Stead and Mr Turnbull were appoint*

a committee to control matters. The committee were kept busy in the discharge of their onerous duties; very oit-eii both gentlemen were on duty continuously from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and they won the warmest thanks ot ■ the farming community and of commercial men for the successful manner in which they got the'various ves,sels worked. Not only did the committee do a larfto amount of work at considerable inconvenience- to them-M'lv«-s. but they wove subjected to a yo.id deal ot" personal annoyance' for the part taken by them. The Union iSti-aiu .Ship Company were prompt in recognising and acknowledging the valuables work dore by Messrs Stea<l iiiid Turnbull, and the Hon. Georgo .McLean, on behalf of the company, M'nt them a telegram cordially thanking them for their work.

The following oontemix>rary appro- - <-iavion indicates tho opinions held at ° •the time regarding Mr Stead's action : '• —"Ono bright spot in this cloud of *' xurmoil and agitation," wroto tho ' Christ-church correspondent vi the t '"Cutholie Times," ''is tho prompt and 1 resolute manner in which the merchants and. farmers have come foi-.vuid to prevent a complete block of bu<"Uv,s at Lyttelton. The former supply the sinews of -war, and tho latter send their sons to carry bags of grain. s>hovel coals, or do whatever is required ol thorn. Among the 'capitalists' Mr Goo. G. Stead particularly distinguish'-** himself. It is he, in fact, who has organised the volunteer lalyourers who have discharged the cargo from tho steamers, and have loaded and tent them away. And ho is a gentleman. mind you. and habitually wears kid gloves."and is supposed to revel in tho lap. of luxury. Yet ho not only Organised and directed the buiuis ot "young men from tho country.' who' with tiho potentiality of their UMiKclo took a good deal o-f showing, lrtit lw> lias -himself, whai required, tailed on to the tackles with a d«-jt-T«iss perfectly surprising. Seriously, his unaccustomed work from daylight Till dark has been not only fatiguing and inexpressibly distasteful to him, but there w;:s a certain amount of danger a-rw>ut it. For the disapproval o- the ordinary strikers might at- any t.me ha-vo beon altered by the caprice of s.otne members beyond control, from jeers ajid offensive language, to sticks and stones. However, Mr Steid upheld -with tho creartoet good temper and tact, met th<; fhaff Welled at him with a joke, and eteadily pushed on the. work with a dogged perseveranro ilint. in almost anything, in tho end is bound to win. Hβ has boen a.i>lv seconded by his lieutenant, -MαTurnbull. of t'he Farmers' Co-operative AesooiaJtion. by tho presence of many 1 wiJJ-ionoAvn business men, and also _ by the admiration, more or lees publicly expressed, by every thoughtful xaeml>or of the community who dares to tlnLnJi for himself. He has now been relieved by the raieter β-tevedoree, who liavo agreed io superintend ttho volunteer lalioiirers." \fter tlie strike was over Mr Stead took steps, anonymously and quite- unknown, to wnta-ibuto liberally towards beJ.jwng tho wires avid fanmbfie of tbo strikers who had bern brought toWe distress though their husbandsandfttUMsi*. being out of work. He Uso Sod Wβ perWnal influence the day to get the milwav honde wlio bad joined the SikeVSatod in their positions. BLACKBALL COAL COMPANY. In viwi- of tie dntercst. which the affairs tho company have lately . little more in dotall .^.. facts T fwi . Stead's comietftion -nritib xt. . It wee ■ STJuIt. 1893, tia-t ibe joined, tto directorate. . Prior to -the <i**»™% S the directorate comisted of Jwo. the la-toMr E. G. »Lr II P Hill; Tv-hen. it wns decided torncieaßO the number of direotore, /tho ■ SoK fell upo!, Mx Steady tie time be joined the Board, took a ' keen aaid close interest in tho affaire JrL> company. Aβ tioned. he succeeded Mr E. G: ac chairman in 1902. end contmuecTto told -the position till has death. Tflie General policy of iho company Ibad : been hud down some years prior to tho - ■ time when 3lr Stead assumed the ohairjiiauship of the directors, and at did r.ot fall to has lot to initjato any new t line of .policy. The -position . of cFTairman was V>V ■««» J" 3 ** 0 * * einec-ure, and the affaire of the etwn- • -pany demanded and rcteived from Mr Stead much of his time and attention. Mr Wright had brought to a successful termination the'negotiations between the company arid the Government, ' which had for their object the construction of a branch railway, f rofti Isgahere, on the -mam line, to Blackball, but as originally agreed' upon, the line was only to *bo made to a point about-a .mile ahd a-quarter from the mine.. IU-coTiising that an extension ot, tn© line to a point nearer the mine would have an appreciable effect upon the economical transport of the company s ■coal, Mr Stead and his colleagues impwesed' upon the Government the desirability of continuing the line, so that • tho distance between rail-head and tho mine, would be very considerably re- ■ • ifuced, and their representations in the matter were Kuccessful. In order that the construction of the line should bo ' pushed on energetically, tho company A>ntered into ah agreement, guaranteeing totho Government the interest on ' - its cost by undertaking that the freights from the" coal carried over tho line would be sufficient to meet interest charges. Towards tho end of last year a serious labour trouble occurred at the ■ mine as the result of which the men went out on strike. Tho main facts are .kuown.to the public, but the time has •not vet arrived for the inner history of the trouble to l>o disclosed. In this, as in other difficulties of the kind, while he had to be careful not to sacrifice altogether the interests of the shareholders, who have hitherto made nothing out of tho mine, he wns always prepared to extend the fullest consideration to any legitimate grievances on tho part of the men. The .difficulty which met him throughout tho negotiations was that whenever he ehoweU a disposition to make concessions it was at once, seized upon by the agitators as a sign of weakness, and the ) men were urged to "«?tick out for more. A case in-point happened when Mr Stead offered, on hearing that the funds of tho Union were, practically exhausted, to pay half the fine imposed by the Court. It was characteristic of the man that he was always ready to do in an itupukc* of fair-mindedness and '•gcne.roß.ity what he would Trevor yr*'d on <-ompulsion. Many years ago. long before the Arbitration Act, Mr Stead was the owner cf &on;e. brickworks at Heath<>ote; When the-'nmn went- out on etrike, he refused to bo coerced into ooncedjn.ir their demands, and tho men, I after being out of work for some time. f- 'caved in." Mr Stead not only took them back, but then voluntarily gavo thorn all that tlivy had asked for. jjJteAlM* Blackball case, finding that his ,«pK3°ipdy the fine was misinterpreted, -wi ■ set n > lu «*lf doggedly to "see Stf^-^HW^Bh, ,, and said that the men '■&$ l f! 9 & rt ' tu m u> work befon- he would #i|! s* a ' te ail . v more concessions, 'xaore is >WlElr 6 tloutt - however, anions tho.«o who " ,m "'Uinately, that if tho — mmtrs had returned to work ' rm :_ would have civen them the 30 • : mmut'js "crib" , timo for which they asked. Later -events s*o<m to show .-.;. ii'su evea —with this, concession tlio %> liHvn are not dispost-d to l>e content. THE SOUTH AFRICAN WAR. fit ; , I [ '•» u °t tco.much to say that tlic W&?'- IV* )3t not-ewortliy miction of Mr SUvad'3 .life, and the ono i n T,-hich he did m<nv to the puiilic. was the part psfe/.tfi' took in connection with the South

African war. It lias never, we ,boli«ve. been fully reaJiticd by the people of >>ew Zealand Low much ho did to premoto tlio sending of contingents from this colony to <:o service , ior tho Empire at ..tho front. 'Hip I a to Mr Sodden has received practically a!! the credit for what was done in thi» mattor. Unquestionably, when he was onco coiiriiiir-wl that- the cas»» was urgent, and that ho would receive tie support- of the people in despatching troops he threw 'himself into the work with an amount of energy and enthusiasm worthy of the highest praise. Few people who were not actually behind the we.nes. however, aro anaro now diffident he. was about tin? niauer a-t first, or what paici> wen? taken, by men not belonging to his party, Mr Stead prominent among their number, to convince him of tho needs ot the Empire, and of tho duty of patriotic New Zealanders to strain every nerve on behalf of t-he Mother Country. •Mγ was a man with Imperial instincts in his nature, but he was a' ixdit-ician. and at- tJio wmmencoitif'iit ol; tiie South African trouble he- knew that a larg«- s*-<-tion of his follower.-; — tliv extroHie Radii-wiLs —wc-ru utterly oppns-od id v.;ir on general grounds, and in this particular case looked upon the Hoers as a teehi; , people •'ritffctly PtrucgliiiE: to he free" and being intimidated, i:' not bullied, by a far yt-ronger nation. There were "Little Kniiliindor.-. , ' here, although as it turned out not nearly in the same proportion as at- House. Still, the*- made sufficient noise to render Mr Seddon careful as to iiow be acted, and after t-he despatch of tho first- contingent on the authority of Parliament, Mr Si'ddun s'.iowe:! some d.v-p.Tsition. to rest content with this demonstration of our good wiM, for such it- was considered a& the time. '"The Pns*s" we- are proud to say. was the foremost, paper in Xew Zealand to urge that tho situation M.i one en J ling for our utmost efforts on behalf of the Bmpire. On December Kith, 1899, in urging that a second contingent should be sent, we said : "The British Empire, in- our opinion, has hot , reached a crisis in its history when none of it , ; members can hang lt'ack without shame and without peril:" After a. little, hesitation, Mr Heddon consulted members of Parliament by telegrams (the House having ri-ssn), -and finding that the. majority were favourable, ordered the of the second contingent.. Then, however, foe again showed a stronger disposition than before to rest on his oars. Mr Stead, who, nn the great maritime strike; had shown himself a leader of men. and in whom the fighting spirit was strongly developed, displayed in this crisis an amount, of patriotic fervour and entbuci "" l » f"r which oven his friends had hardly been prepared. Many of them looked upon him as a- rather cold, unemotional man, but the South African crisis stirred him to his depths, and shoived him full of patriotic emotion. As early as November 2nd, 1£599, he telegraphed to the Premier: "Canada proposes sending second contingent; if New Zealand will do likewise, I will contribute £1000 towards the cost, if despatched this month, providing the public subscribe £9000, Government contributing the halance." To this Mr Sedrlon replied: "Thank you most sincerely for your generous offer, but am afraid it would not bo possible raise the required balance publicly. Moreover, the. Parliamentary appropriation is practically absorbed, and I don't think it is desirable to incur liabilities beyond the amount authorised." It was nflt till after tho general election and Mr Seddon had had the opnortunity of 'consulting the now memlyers • 'by "telegram-, as already stated,- that ho agreed to send tho second contingent. Mr Stead was not satisfied with this. He had been in South Africa, and seemed to foresee the magnitude of the struggle. From the first, when the English War Office sent their > famous telegram: "Infantry, preferred," he insisted on the importance of sending mounted men. On December 21st. 1899. after tho news of tho battle-of Tugela was received, Mr Stoad, who was in tho North Island, telegraphed. to Mr Seddon suggesting that Canterbury should itself equip' a troop for service in South Africa, and Mr Soddon approved the idea. On December 23rd, Mr Stead i.elegraphed to Mr Recce, tho Mayor of Chrustchurch, offering to contribute a certain sum of money if Canterbury would equip a troop by public subscription. • In reply, he was informed by Mr Recce that a public meeting would he held on December 27th in Christclmrch. The fact was that other citizens of Christchurch were impressed with the gravity of the situation, and had not been idle. On December 18th Dr. Levinge, at that time superintendent of the Sunny side- Mental Hospital, had discussed the matter with Mr Heury Cotterill and Mr William Recce, and as the result, of their conference it was decided to call a meeting to discuss the- nature of the assistance that should be offered. This meeting, as already stated, was fixed for the 27th, anrl Mr Stead was amongst those invited to be present. In his telegram regretting his inability to he at the meeting, Mr Stead urged that Canterbury should equip a special troop, and ho indicated that he had no doubt if this were done that the other provinces-would follow Canterbury's example. On December 26th. the Editor of "The Press," who was not then aware -that Mr Stead -vyas in communication with the Premier on tho subject, opened "The More Men Fund" to obtain an expression of public opinion on the question of sending another contingent. The,, paper urged those of its readers who thought yet another contingent should be despatched to send in their names and a (shilling subscription as an indication of their feeling. In two or three, weeks, jn. response to the appeal in "The Press" and'iTho Weekly Press." more than 13,000 were, received. Telegrams were sont by tn«» editor to every member cf Parliament and every Mayor throughput tho colony, anil he received an overwhelming preponderance of replies in favour of Nenv Ze-a laud send ing more men.' Mr Seddom, who wae. kept informed of what was being dene-, was obviously impressed, and telegraphed that ho would send another contingent, providing the traiisiport, if the public of Canterbury would organise, tihe contingent nnd equip tho men. Before the meeting: on December 27th. tho. Canterbury War Fund had been initialed by the Provisional Committee which had flxxm set up, but no decision had been arrived at as to whether the fund should be npplied tv send in? men or horses, or both; tiho coiiuni+tso had before .it. however, a tele-cram ec-nt by Mr Sf-oid to IV«>ute-n---a- (now Lieutenant-Colonel) Rhodes, asking ■tihat officer to take in hand the question of privately raising a Canterbury Troop among the representatives of a few of ifoa old Canterbury families. A public meeting, held on January 4th, 19C0, decided with patriotic unanimity that a Third Contingent ehmild'be sent to the front. At this period the Canterbury "War Fund totalled £2726 Iβ s*l. When , Mr Stead roit<urn«l to CliristchuTch on January loth, he found that beyond cofleoting mouey nothing had-been actually fixed as to tile method of its disposal. Hβ was iiivited to join the executive of the War Fund Committee, and did so, njid became treasurer of the fund. The same day Mr Stead, .after conferring with Mr Reeoe, tho chairman of the committee, communicated with the Prime Minister,, conveying an offer from Canterbury to .provide and equip 50 mounted men, and pay iho passages of the men and" tlieir horeee to South Africa. ,f My proposal would be." Mr Stead's telegram stated, "to provide Hnrdv roueh-riders. uomethang eimilar to the buehmen being raised in Auatialia. Wuch men would be invaluable

for scouting purposes." The- Prime Milliliter replied the same day accepting '.he offer. Once this important po'Tnt had been decided, tho Execirtavo Cimimiittec —which consisted of Mr W. Vwu (then Mayer of vV.ts city). Dr. f.eviiicc. Messrs Goo. G. Stead, George Humphreys. Gco. Harris. Henry Oottcrill and Lieut.-Colonel Slater. V.D. —>ci to work wvvh renewed energy. When it .is remoniilMired that the Canterbury Troo;> of 100 men (the number was raised from too original 50 pn>j)oeod. owing to tlie advooacv of Dr. J gringo) wero eeleoted, and trained, practically in a month, it is apparent that- aJI connected with themovement, worked cjiergetically and almost continuously. A very largt. anioiint of detail work had to be done Ky 1>lw» Executiro Comomtt.eei and cci many oct-.ae.ions the meimibere %vere engaged in t.heir labours till two o'clock in the morning. Jn fmanciaJ matters the committee was grwitlj- assisted by Mr Sttiad, whose Ir-agt-hy busdness experience and genius ior finance, ad<led his undoubtedly great administrative abilities, wero of t.foo lu'glxest vaiue. An indication of M.r sSt<.od'fi business acumen was shown by the fact that it was duo to him that a saving ot £.>OOO was effected in, connection with one department con-iMV-tod with tho <U«patdi of tho trooj>. In the selection of the horses for tho troop Mr ritead took a personal interest, and his advice in this matter proved of considerable assistance. Vitli the other members of the committee Mr Steail put his heart and soul into the work of sending the men off lully and suitably equipped, and his interest in the doings of thf» troop -u-as always keen. After the departure of the contingent

on February 17th. 1900, a newspaper correspondence arose on tho question as to whom tho credit was due for the action that resulted in tho despatch of tho contingent, and Mr Stead, whilst placing his views on tho subject,. remarked in one ot" his letters:—"The only persons really entitled to credit are tho young men who formed tho contingent and risked their lives in defence of the Empire."' Tho truth is that several public-spirited men wotp moved by tho same patriotic spirit about the samo time, but those associated with Mr Stead in. tho work would bo the first to admit how much tho movement oweu .o his energy, enthusiasm, and foresight. A somewhat melancholy fact in connection with the Canterbury troop of tho Third Contingent is that the last social gathering held of the members was on the occasion when they wore the guests of Mr Stead on April 20th, 1905.

Mr Stead proved a true prophet when ho foresaw "that the action ot Canterbury in raising a troop for service in South Africa would bo followed by tho other provinces. Tho Third Contingent consisted not only of the Canterbury troop, but troops from Westland, Westport, Wanganm, Hawke's Bay, Gisborne, Taranati, and Hawera. All these troops wore raised on lines similar to those on which the Canterbury troop was raised. Tho samo method was adopted in connection with tho despatch of men from Otago, Wellington, and Auckland.

POLITICAL ASPIRATIONS. On several occasions Mr Stead was asked to offer himself as a candidate for Parliamentary honours, but the demands of his large and increasing business prevented him from acceding to these requests. Nevertheless, ho always took the keenest interest in public affairs, and kept himself well abreast of all that took lplaco in tho political world. Ea-rly in November, 1890, Mr Stead was the recipient of a requisition signed by Mr Richard Evans and 312 other electors in tho Avon I district, asking him to allow himselt ito be nominated for tho eeat. The requisitionists followed up their request by waiting upon. Mr Stead as a depu- | tation, and Mr Stead, with somo reluctance, waived his personal feelings in the matter, and consented to bo nominated. Though the decision, was arrived at somewhat lato in the campaign, Mr Stead throw himself with his accustomed energy into the electoral fight. Committees wero formed in various parts of the electorate, and promises of support were mad© by large numbers. On November 17th Mr Stead addressed the electors in the Papanui Town Hall. Tho meeting was very

numerously attended, and tho proceedings were orderly throughout. Replying to a question at the conclusion of his speech, Mr Stead stated that ho was not prepared to support the then Atkinson Government, because ho was not at one with all the opinions held by it; but he would certainly oppose Mr Hallanco as far as ho possibly could. Mr Stead's speech showed that he had a comprehensive grip of political questions, and early in his remarks he made it clear that ho was no.political time-server. He had told tho deputation who waited upon him that it wari commonly understood that a candidate* had no chanco of success unless ho was prepared to trim and mould his views to secure votes. "I told the deputation," Mr Stead continued, ''that J wculd not do thus on any account, and ttiat I always endeavour to say what I mean and mean what I say, and that 1 was not prepared to alter my opinions for political purposes." Mr Stead's idea of New Zealand politics was summed up in two phrases: ''Increase your- population and develop your resources'." He laid stress also on the necessity for a forward land settle-

rcent policy, one of his suggestions being that the land of tho JNortn Island shculd bo delivered to tho settlor, with a portion, sufficient for his immediate use, ready cleared, tho cost of tins work to bo added ultimately to tho price of tho land. Hβ ako made some weighty references to strikes and labour difficulties. Whilst acknowledging that tho lot of the labour-seller in .New Zealand wi\s not all that a fairminded man could wish it to be, bo

asserted, that it was far and away preferable to the lot of the wageearners in Kurope. "Strikes are worse than suicidal,' , the candidate observed, "as thej* not only directly injure master and"man, but* they destroy the fund from which wages are derived. . . . Strikes destroy confidence in the future, and co prevent the expansion and development of trade, which is absolutely necessary for prosperity.. Nothing can bo more fatal to the interests of the working classes than for trade to be brought to a standstill." Mr Stead la an address at Marshland on December Ist, further explained his political views. The speech showed that on all matters affecting the welfare of' the country ho possessed sound and practical views. The result of the poll indicated, however, that the electors of Avon, favoured the policy enunciated by the Opposition candidate. Mr Edwin Blake, who was returned by a majority of 187. polling 774 votes to Mr Stead'e 587. Mr Stead made no fur..-er attempt to enter Parliament, but continued taking a keen general interest «n the politics of the country. VARIOUS OFFICES. Mr Stead was made a J.P. by the Stout-Vogel Government, and in 1900, when their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of York visited New Zealand, he was appointed chairman of the Royal ComnVJssion for Canterbury. To , this body ■ktls committed the responsibility of making all the arrangemejvte for the reception of the Royal visitors, and the admirable manner in which these were carried out was due in no small degree to the energy and tact disnlayed by Mr Stead. Ho -was elected a member of fcho Tramway Board on dts inauguration in 1903, and wns cteputv-chaitman i up to -the tinio of his resigning hie

seat when proceeding on his last visit to England. This was an undertaking in which Mr Stead took consider able personal interest, and to the details of its working, as was the caw in everything with which liei was oon ; netted, he brought a great deal or eneray and painstaking care. Tho «nienirisas ami undertakin??. with which Mr Stead. wiUi lue idontificl hinuself at various time!; would make along list In IS7-2. in conjunction with Messrs F. &. A. Grahan. and G. A. Keado. Imj helpwl to found the Canterbury Club. The first meeting in connection wiUi the dub was held Ln the Crystal Palace. Biwldinfls in Colombo street on the oppoMte corner to the Oxford Hotel. lit- v.a* president of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce in the yrare 18«0 1880. and 1886. In 1889 Mr Stolid joined the Hoard of Directors of the Christennrch Gas. Coal. aJid Coke Co.. and in 1902. m sucee«yon to the late Mr E. U. Wright, becani* diairman ot the Boaixl. His energy ami enterprise Avae markedly r.oticea.bio in connection with the policy of the company, which has the reputation of T>ein\» perhaps the most up-to-date and progressive company ot the kind in Australasia. . lit 1890. when the Christchurch Prn=s Company was reconstituted. Mr Sceiid became insflsaeins director, lie threw all his characteristic business enterprise., and proirreesivenc.<.-< into the manacc-rnent of the company, with the result that it at once stanrd on a career of rapidly expanding prosperity. The handsome block ot bnildings now brin* erected- for the coniDnny in Cathedral «.uare which is admitted to be the finest of its kind in \ustralasia. will be a.monvnrial to his eperjr\- and success as mailing director of the company. In the wellaro of idl tho employees of the company Mr vStead always took the keenest interest—particularly those who JiaU iHson connected with it for any length of time—and in none of tho numerous enterprise with which he was connected- did 1* tako greater pride. In tho earlier stages of his career Mr fitpad himself was connected with tho literary department of tho • Press, a connection which ho always recalled with a good deal of pleasure. Members of the '•Press." staff who were present on the occaaon ot a (tnnner given by tho editor on the ove ot Mr Stead's departure for England last year, learned something cf the laiter gentleman's early connection with the "Press." Prompted by some old-time reminiscences by the old-cst members of the staff, Mx Stead co.id ho felt proud to say ho had beeri an activo member of the staff nearly as kTi"- as the veteran opposite lura. in his "earlier days, when he was a cleric in tho Union Bank of Australia, ho found that half a sovereign a week for paragraphs on aquatic and racing events helped his little income and' many times he had foregathered with the reporters in the somewhat dingy preraisci of thoso days in Cashel street. Later on, when he camo to titkc an iictive part in the. gram business, no could not £.ivo the- time to roportoflig work, but he still ha\l some interest in tho journal. Wien the maritime strike took place.' "The Pros, , nuito unasked for by fcrm. gave ltim sound moral support in his emOieavoure to Arrange fair terms between me-n and masters. Subsequently he was induced to put some money into tho enterprise, and the directors, mvido him managing director. ilo concluded by proposing tho Jieaitii of tOxe oldest niomiber of tho staff.

Throughout his long connectdon with tho Press Company, Mr Stead identified himself thoroughly with the work of its various departments, and it gave him gemii.no pi-ensure to leeJ that the employees regarded him as one of theaneelves. This attitude was clear-lv emphasrsod in- his , remarlcs at tlie dinner referred to above. Long before that. ihowevor. it was expressed in his speech at tho opening cf 'the buildings at. present pied by the Press Company on Fobrua.rv 27th, 1892. Mr Stead, in responding to the toast of "Success to ' The Pres.3' Company," amongst other matters referred to his deeiro to meet the workers more frequently. Ho said: "He wn-ld not help tihin-kms? that it would be much better for all .if the directors of tlio company, and tho staff came together o-f*ener in, the future than they hnd dono in. the pasit. Ho <lkl not mean to suggest t-luv.t there had been the degree of friction. His. only desiro was to se,e them mono i.n> contact with ono another. They were all workers — whether it wero the office boy or the editor—working ■togetheT to niaiwLnin the jirestige of tho Press. A littJo more persoival intercourse, moro frequent interchaoige of individual opinion, and a few moro social gatherings such as tho present, would oonduco still further to that prosperity which tliey confidenitly anticipated mooting with in the fiirure." Again, on. the. occasion, of dive employeee of the company nvakiiiiw a .presenitation in 1894- to tho late Mr J. S. Guthrao, "the then editor of "The. Press," Mr Stead, spoalting to the largo gathering then assembled ' ; round the stone," said:

"Mr Ohiairai-m ar.d i'ellow-workefs, —I have a, grievance. Jt seems to mc that you miight- have permitted mc to make some recognition o-f the/ services of Mr G-uthrie. I have, known liini six-.xnd-twcnty years, a?><i 1 luave been- more or Jess interesUnl in tho paper with which he lias had so much u> do in raising it from a. small thing to what I may confidently say is a reial live fmawsixaper. I said ' fellow I workers' advisedly. I consider all in the room aro workers in tho welfare of the paper. Thoaigh it -may bo that I belong to itlie- unpaid division, I certainly do not l)olo-ug to t3ie luiemployed division. Therefore, I (have had many opportunities of watching Mr Outline's efforts. On all oceas'i-on!". ihe Jlias Iveen ready to taJro his alioulders tho work of oth<»ns, or if 'necesaary blame of others. "Wherever there has any little ilio has be-on the first to say, 'I'll take ihe responsibiLitv.' I can conceivo no finer trait in ahe cliaracter of a m«n than that of Ivearing the burdens of others. 1 never met a man more siealoue for tho service .in wliieh. lie was engaged tlian out frienid Mr GutJirie. I gay 'our friend , advisedly. The«e are not mere lip words on-my part, for having known him since 18do I trtisit I may consider myself his friend and that he is mine." For khc? years, Mr Stead held a scat on the Beard c-f cf tho United Pres* Association, and he was also <a nieni'ber of the Newspaper Proprietors' Aesociation. Mr Stead -was elected as a member of the Board of Governors of Canterbury CttHece, retirin«s under the provision of tlie Canterbury College «-und Canterbury Agricultura} G&U&zq Act, 1890, on- June 30bh, 1897. He was .re-eleoted as a member of the Board in 1897 an«d 1898, resi|rnin« o» Juno

30Ui, 1990. In 1877 Mr Stead, witlr Meesrs John Studholme, Joseph Pahner, vvm. Reeves, T. M. Ha*a9all, W. D. Oarrothere, W. Montf-omerv. and tie Hon. J. T. Peacock, founded the Union Lneunnico Company, and became deputy-cnairman of directors on tho formation of the company. When the company in 1892 was merged into the Alliance Insurance Company he continued to hold the position of deputy-chairman, and on the death of the Hon. J. T. Peacock in 1905 became chairman of the board of directors, a position he held up to the time of his death. In 1898 Mr Stead became a director of the New Zealand Shipping Company, a colonial undertaking in which he took a great deal of interest. He was for some time, as stated above, a director of the Blackball Coal Company, and iv the death of the late Mr E. G. Wright succeeded him as chairman of the board. Mr Stead took

a leading part in the establishment. of both the Tai Tapu and Central dairy factories, and amongst other business concerns wi/h which he was connected may be mentioned Manning and U. and Warner's Hotel Co.. in both ot which he was chairman of the respective boards of directors. He was also a director of Mason. Struthers and Co., Ltd., and of the Christchurch Meat Company. . , . During one of his visits to Auckland, Mr Stead, who had in 1903 become one of the three proprietors of the Theatre Royal, saw the proposed plans of the new theatre to be erected In Auckland. These had Wii P'^P a '« by Mr Pitt, of Sydney. Mr Stead hnd for some time been urging the n«vssitv for the erection of a theatre more wotfhv of Christchurch, and he at once took steps to have, plans made on the lines of the Auckland theatre for one here circumstances deaved the erection of the building for some time, but Mr Stead had the satisfaction of seeing it completed.

AX UPRIGHT SPORTSMAN. -V corner-stone cf the house las the un.spoken thought o nauv when Mr Stead was stricken down at Miccarton on Ea&ter Ami truly no maa jvor < :<l n oro to build up and support.the rurf »i anj country than he did in >« w . Zeal , a A biwv man. he. gave almost a lifos -.york to the advancement of the three t ,niU of tlw Turf world: breeding, racing and administration; and today & Zealand and all tho states i:f Australia eharo in the beuehts be constantly laW.urrd tor. So long ago as 1872 Mr Stead became a meniwr ol tho Canterbury Jockey Club, having taken an active interest in mc jit? in t,lw> r>rovinc-e fo-r foiw years previously. Very ftcon after joining "tho CJ.C he became honorary treasurer, a pesition lie held ocnUiwiously until ho relinquished office on his departure, for Kin/land "last year. He was ato chairman of the club tor several periods, when he invariably advocated the col icy of progress: that is +o say. a covering liberal st-alu'ii, the establishment ot wrtisht-fcr-ago races, and good accommodation for the public, all with a proper regard for the security of the club's financial position. Sir Stead was «jio of the very earliest supporters of tho totalizator* in New Zealand. Hb foresaw tho advantages to be derived from this form of bettins. and he was instrumental in getting the machine in nee at Riccarboji in 1880. tho first time this system of bettiras was tried in New Ze.aLa.nd. From that timo to lus death Mr Stead rever wavere<l in hie b-lieP in th» totalisator. and by speech and by writing always upheld that totalisator betting which gave ite profits to stakes and permanent improvements -to racecourses was the ono fair form of racecourse bet tins that any enlightened country should tolerate. The' profits from tho totalisator ior tho .mating at which to • was firet used ait Riooarton araounted to £130; for tho present racing year of tho C.J.C., which cattle to"ah end with the recent Autumn Meeting, tho maehipa profits aro apnvrxiniiitely between £16,000 and £17,000. In the nrnttor of wekht-for-ago and class reoi-ng Mr Stead always had one idea. Ho thought it was the duty of racing cluib> to devote a- sba.ro of their profits to ra-oes whereim horses could wxvi on. level terms. Hβ. held that ha.ndvciape were necessary, but at tho saitno timo was tho eta/unchest advocate the "higlKw form of racinig" had in this or any other country. His views on this question were widely known, for at -the ami-ual atnd committees nicotinics of has club, at the annual meetings of "t;hio New Zealand R-Jcing Conference., and im his communicaitions to the public Press, ho constantly urged the mcfrurascniemt erf the beet horses. Ho was always emphatic about tho wisdom of raising the value of races in proportion to the increase, of inconio. And ns ©yidetico of this, it may bio noted that'for the rmson 1897-1898, with, a totolisatfrr revenue of £8C,407, the - C.J.C. gave away in stakes the- su.ni of £15,20-". In tho sea&on just closed thf- tot alis&tcr revenue ■amounted to £193.849, and the stakes for e!e?e.n days racing totalled £26,780. Tlio proportion devoted to class races has beau- exos?'llen.t all through tho last decade-, a-nd no one rejoiced more tham Mir >Stead that 'the- .hisr.li example, set In- the- C.J.C. was being followed by other clubs in the country. To some hie advocacy of racing savoured' of wif-interost, simply because he. over had tho aim to hreod and raise the- "beet. "YVQiai iMr-Stead aceornvpliehed w-as open to others to attain j ajid mo sportsman ever grudged the Squire of Y-aM'hurst ono of? tho many victories which have, made his name fa/moils in: 'the- Turf world.

The ''New Zealand Stud Book" contains many crat-rlce tr> -which are* aitinched the word?;, "imported by, Mr Ge<i. G. Stead,"' end so early as 1875 Jio i imparted a- in arc nwnred Equation from Australia. It was in 1878 that Mr Stead ini'Torted from England thetna.ro> M«s Laura.. Pe.tix>lpu«"—-daan <vf HotclikiK—L'Oriont, and Tita.nia, and the stall ian Leoliraie, by Caterer. In 1579 h/y brought out tiho Storliujnvorth mare Ptvldtara, dam of Fcrmo., Forma and Forme, grand-dam of Multiform and T'ji.iiform, and great-grand-diun of tho ronowned Cruciform.- by St. Lesor—in tih*> opinion of many experienced judges ill* greatest cf her sex -over Trred and raised in Now Zealand. Tbo stallion Cwdogan, by Or* 5 " morn*, from Gh-vnce, 'by Adventurer, Mr Stead i.mported in 1881. This was tlho year ho fiisb revisited tho Old Country, and it was an important one tor the New Zealand Turf. Among other horses he bought the Morteincr herse Aprcmont. who" had a line record as a i?ire> of winners and winnerproducing hrood ma res.« Among the ninros selected by Mr Stead during that v:sit v.ere Nellie Moore—carrying Lochiel by Prince Charlie—.Steppo dam of l*ltf.pi:iia.k and Step-foldt— dam of Kle-vation—Florence Macarthy —-clam of Tirailleur. Tiraillerio and Tire —I*ovebird. Fairyland, Lady Ivavensnvorth, Sweet- Cicely. Deviation and Loila. It was in this year that ; Mr Stead bought Splendor as a yearling and .raced him in England. Splendor won the Payne Stakes of 1383. and ran fourth in tho Derby of that year, afterwatds coming out to Australia, where he sired many winners at the local Htud. In the Diamond Jubilee year Mr Stead p_<",ain wont Home, and this time he bought the. colts Obligado and Benzoin. Both have sired wiiwiera. but Benzoin by Friar's Balsam died a couple of years ago. leaving somo good Bt-c<?k; including Fireiron and B-uc-ekuc'.i-. winners c-f the C.J.C. Great for two years in sii)C!Ccss.ion. Two or three years la-ter Mr Stead in*.ported from E-nzland the marcs Oz-tcrdcn, by Sheen, Strc-a b> , Orv.k'to, and Saucer by Patron. At iiho time Gttorden was in foal to the Bend Or horse Martagon, and in duocourso predticed t-liait admixable little racehorse Martian, who won in New Zealand and Australia. To Multiform, Ottortlon. produced Sung-xl and Boniform, both winners in Au.stralia and. known performers in thfs During his visit to England last year Mr Stead btfught for his. stud fillios by Persimmon, Orrae and Ladas, and in partnership with'Mr J. B. Reid, the young St. Simon stallion Charlemagno H., his dam Perfect Droam by Morion from Rosebud, iby Pero Gomez fiom Lady Ro&ebery, by Lord Clifden from Violet by Thormanby. From time to time Mr Stead has purchased mares in Australia for his stuu. A notable ma.tron. is La. Notte' by Bridrford, dam of Nightfall and Noctuiform, both of whom aro now in England. After winning the Auckland , Racing Club's Royal Stak«B as a two-year-old, Noctuiform raced at Rand wick and won

the \ J.C. Derby in the remarkable time of 2min 32 ■β-osec. Returning to New- Zealand he won the Country s "Triple Crown," viz., New Zealand Cup, Canterbury Derby, and Canterbury Cup, and was afterwards shipped to England, ha ving been bought by Mr James Buchanan at 5000 guineas. As is well known Noctuiform lias not yet liecoine acclimatised. The same, thing happened to .Multiform when Mr Stead sold him to Sir Fydgar Vincent. The horse was never himself in the Old Country, and Mr Stead got him back in exchange for Screw Gun. who won several go»d'~raocs for hie new owner. There is not the least doubt in the world that Noctuiforni was a really excellent racehorse, and nothing bux bad luck has prevented his showing his true form in England. Though he had raced successfully for some years previously, it was in Iteß. that Mr Stead engaged R. J. Ma:-on —now in England—as his private trainer. Since, then the Yaldhurst training establishment has been kept goinf strongly. In Mr Joseph Chadwick's book. '"Men of Mark in the World of Sport." , lie says:—"Mr Stead's policy has been to breed the best, and always to buy these to hie liking in any stud offering yearlings for sale, and no man's presence at the ringside has been more courted than his. He lias always been a good haver, and the sums paid for. and for which he. has sold horses, would run into big figures, ltussley. Lochicl, Maxim, Sextant, Gipsy Kins, Bercsford. Seeurns, Clive. Chantilly. Scots Grey. \lcx Argent, Lebel. Retina. Musk Dwr, Knid, Tempest, Moraine, Melinite, Milord. Medallion. Palliser. Ranee Nuna. Goraint. Aldershot, Clanranal.l, Stopniak, Reynard, New Forest. Icli Dion. Strowan, Reflector, Bliioiiro. Searchlight. Bloodshot, Romanoff, Musketry. Mannliclier, Manser, Epaulet, Uniform, Bombshell, Belliconr. Motto, Firefly, Geld Medallist. Multiform. Altni'r, Conqueror, Tolstoi. Screw Gun. Courtier,' St. Cyr, Formo.san.Sant Ibrio, Benzoin, Isniene Obliaado. 'Cruciform, Field Battery, Royal Artillery, Menschikoff, St. Michael, San Patricia. Field Rose, San lie,!ro. Orloff, King Stork, Helen Faucit. Knight Errant. Machine Gun, Siege Gun, Marion, Ilium, Legion of Honotw, Lcda, Senior Wrangler, Strathnairn, Missfire. Nantes, Skobcbff. Delaware, Lady Lyonore, Malakotf. Bagpipes, lmperator, Evelyn Wood. King Log, Silkworm. De La Roy. Golden Lily. Veldt. Rubia, Grand Rapids. Martian, Nightfall, Golden Knight, Mnnjeet, Siiagod, Savoury, and others in. commission at tiho present, time, aro some of Mr Stead's horses that have been through Mason's hands, and few, if any, colonial trainers havo ever had so many gpoa ones in a given time, and certainly ne-ver the. property of one owner.!' If wo add. to these Noctuifonn, Isolt, Bomitbnn, Count "Witte, Armlet, Golden Slipper, Suitglow, and Jvlysium, Mason's 31st of liorses is pretty well complete. Before., aJ\d curing. Mason's training Mr Stead had wonderful success on the New Zealand turf, and his List of victories would fill much space. There are few races on the New Zealand calendar that bearers of the. "Yellow, black cap" have not won. and the only "classic ,, ovenite in which Mr Stead was unsuccessful are the Grent Northern Guineas, tho AVanga,nui Derby—now disestablished—and tire Waneanui Guinea's. Ihe Canterbury Champagne Stakes was won sixteen times, ten years—from 1893 to 1902—in succession, a world's record far this or any other sort .of raba Altering the figures where necessary, wo quote from Mt Chadwick's book a.«a.m:—"The. Middle -Park Plate his horses have won thirteen times, tho Canterbury Derby thirteen times, the Canterbury "Welcome Stakes nine times, thft Auckland Great Northern Foal States nine tinvee, ihe Auckland Royal Stakes ten times. . 'the Canterbury ChaMcnge Stakes nine times, tho Canterbury Onks nine times, the-- Canterbur>' Cup nine times, the Hawke's B»y Stakes six times, tho Dunedin Champagne Stakes five times, the-North Islard Challenge Stakes four times, the Wellington Stakes five times, tlie Hawke's Bay Guineas five times, which is a fair average considering the number of times he started horses for that event." Mt Stead's horses won tho Great Northern Derby four times, the- New Zealand Cup, New Zealand St. Leger, the, AuckJa.nd Cup, tho C.J.C. Great Autumn Handicap., the O.J.C. Midsummer Handicap, the Dunedin Cup. tho Dunedin Eckpse Sta-kes, tlio "SVclleslev Stakes, and the Tinia.ru Cup each three tiroes: while tlw?y have won such races as the C.J.C. Stewards*-Stakes, C.J.C. Plato, C.J .C: Juvenile. Stakces, A.R.C. Railway* Handicap on several occasions. Ctuciform, with 9s,t 91h as a three-year-old, and Machine Gun, with lOst 41b as a four-year-old, won,the C.J.C , . Great Easter Handicap for Mr Stead;. and his representatives also gained victories in tho Wanganui.Cup, the ,Otago Cup, tho C.J.C. Handicap^—now the New Zealand Cup—and the D.J.C. Handicap .Truly, as Mr Chadwick says:— '■No owner has anything approaching Mr Stead's records, and with the increasing ownership list, no owner, so long as racing exist*, may ever again achieve like results." From,, whatever point Mr Stead's career on the Turf is regarded, it ie a marvellous one. It is a history complete in itself. It shows clearly his judgment. Bis enterprise, and his pluck as an owner, his judgment and skill as a breeder, and. his knowledge of men in obtaining tho best trainers and the best riders. Mr Stead understood horses, and ho understood how to place them. Often ho used to say that tho best horses, the best training, and .the brst Tiding, woukl not win rocrs. unless there was judgment in selecting the races for tho horses to win No man ever studied the pedigrees of his horses co closely. Ho knew the merits and the failings of a family to a nicety, and very, very rarely was his opinion on the promise of a yearling at fault.

OTHER SPORTS. Of late years racing was the only sport in which Mr Stead indulged, if wo except motoring, which he took to a few years ago. But in his earlier life he took an active part in outdoor smarts. He.was for many years a mombcr of the' Canterbury Rowing Club, his memibeirehiii dating from August', 1&58. Ho rowed in the day when tlto> Sygnet and Swan boats were used by tho contestants, and counted among his sporting trophies several cups won on tbe c e occasions. He- represent <xl tho club in, raere njjari>n£t- the. Star Boating and Hoath-cot-o Clubs, principally in pair cars, in <-on junction with tho late Mr R. D. Tiioir.as. He acted as timekeeper at many of the regattae. including tho Christohureh Regatta of December 26th. ISiO. and tho interprovineial race, open to all the colonies, at the Heathcote R«gatta of February 19th, 1872. The distance was two miles, and the course made it necessary for the timekeeper to follow the race either in the umpire's boat or on horseback along the bank. Tho prize of £150 was won by Lyttelton. Mr Stead assisted the* two reporters, of "ihe Press" to describe the racing. Again, on December, 1874, Mr Stead acted as timekeeper in a notable "interprofessional" boat race, in • which the bankers beat the merchants of the city, and the Civil Service beat -the squatters, and in the final tho bankers defeated the Civil Servants. s!he report of these events in "The Press" evidently owed something to Mr Stead's pen. Mr Stead was one of the earliest members of the Christchurch Golf Club, in the days when a few enthusiasts plHjed on land in the vicinity of the Canal Reserve. j Before a pack of hounds was imported

he was one of a committee which organised paper-chases. Ho was also a member and saipportor tof the j Christchurch Hunt club, althmigh he j did not hunt. He took a keen interest in chess, and in February, 18.0, in the , chess iournev of the. first Christdiurcli , Club, founded on April 13th, 1869, :n conitoction with the Literary Institute I Mr Stead won the handicap contest by < twenty-five games. j Mr Stead, as mentioned above, al- ( ways tcok a great interest in defence , matters, especially in the direction ol encouraging young men to Become proficient in rifle shooting, and for this purpose ho offered a valuable cup for , competition among Canterbury volunteers or riflemeu under tho ago of 21 years. For some reason the trophy was never competed for. On the formation of tho South Island Rifle Association. Mr, Stead aleo gave* several trophies for young shots. As an instance ot Mr .Stead's enthusiasm in the matter of rifle shooting, it may be mentioned that some four years ago the Government suggested that the leading citizens should subscribe towards the. cost oi tour s-hieldrt for the encouragement o> ride shooting, and the following day Mr Jstead found the hill amount— £200. The inauguration of '"The Weekly Press" Chalienge Shield, for cadet corps was also due to him. j IN CONCLUSION. This biographical sketch will nave-1 been written in vain if it has not shown that the late Mr Stead was a good citizen, and in many mspecte a remarkable man. who has exerted considerable influence for good upon the community. As a business man, he showed powers of concentration, judgment, and rapid decbion, which excited the admiration of all who knew him, arid accounted in a very large measure for his success in life. His most noteworthy quality was his wonderful fund of eoiind common-esneo, but he was a keen judge of character, and had a great capacity for looking at both sides of a question. He was essentially a fair-minded man, and never allowed his own personal feelings to interfere with hi 3 innate love of justice. He could l>o keen in negotiation, but his word was at all times his bond. Public confidence in liiiu absolute integrity was nowhere more convincingly shown than the way in which tho public backed his horses on tho racecourse, being suro that at any rate they would be run "straight." People who knew Mr Stead only eKghtly wore apt to get offended with his rather brusque speech, and hie somewhat dogmatic way of deciding thing*, although they generally .had, to admit that hie decision was a sound one. Those who knew him more intimately realised that beneath a rather hard exterior was a generous disposition, always ready to give help whero it -was•'wanted, although stubtorn to resist anything liko coercion. He was "not prone to let his good deeds b* talked abont if he could help it. We have said • how, after the maritime strike, he extended his practical sympathy to the strikers and their families. Ho was tho moving spirit of "The Press" Relief Fund and the Winter Work Fund, which rendered such good service to the necessitous in Christchurch during the very serere winters. In connection with the Brunner Relief Fund, Mr Stead also rendered great assistance, and he was always to the fore in any charitable movement. One of the traits of his character waal admiration of personal courage and bravery. •Aβ. a practical proof of thie it may* be mentioned that he presented the Royal Humane-Society of, New Zealund with a Lytielton'-.Harbour Board debenture for £100, bearing interest, to found the Stead Gold.i Medal. ■ This was. to be presented .only in oases of \erv exceptional; bravery exhibited in SKVpig human Jife: Though- founded, for some years, the medal has - only been awarded once. The many, private acti= of benevolence and charity ho did will never be fully known,, but when . once, his sympathy was enlisfced-he did not content himself with giving money, but would give '■■ his ; ipersbnal effort, m hich' is ofton a far.harder task involving greater sacrifice.":. New Zealand' has to-day lost a citizen who was preeminently <a strong man whb'"did the State some service," but there aro ' many who ; have lost a personal friend, with a tender side to his character not perhaps so well-known to the .public''•* large. • .. ' \