Death of a Pioneer. — The death is announced, at Blenheim, of William Gilbert Rees, the pioneer settler of the Lake Wakatipu, where he at one time owned a large run. As an officer of the Stock Department, from which he retired owing to ill-health, he did excellent work. He was 71 years of age, and was on a visit to Blenheim. Mr Rees was a Gloucestershire man, and a cousin of Dr W. G. Grace, the famous cricketer. He came to Otago late in the fifties, and, with the late Mr Von Tunzelmann, was one of the first to explore a portion of the interior. Finding suitable country on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, he took up two runs there, his partners being Mr Gammie and Colonel Grant, of Victoria, 3000 sheep being sent from Victoria. Mr Rees afterwards stocked a run at the Head of the Lake. His home station was where Queenstown now stands. The Shotover river was named after the English residence of Mr Gammie, his partner, Frankton after Mrs Rees, and the Rees river, at the Head of the Lake, after Mr Rees himself. For a time he prospered with his runs, but, like many other pioneers, he had eventually to give them up. Mr Rees was the only settler in the Lake district when the rich discoveries of gold were made in 1862 on the Shotover and Arrow rivers, and to him, at first, the half-famished miners turned for food. To his credit be it that he did not take advantage of his position as owner of the only stores available. He did not (all things considered) extort unreasonable prices for the little he had to dispense among so many eager purchasers, and he and his household went very "short” themselves until a transport system from L100 a ton downwards was established. He was an English gentleman and the hardy digger appreciated him. -Southland Times, 2/11/1898.
THE Funeral of the late William Gilbert Rees will leave the Hospital on THURSDAY MORNING at half-past eight.
BYTHELL & CO., Undertakers. -Marlborough Express, 2/11/1898.
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