Matson Tree

One of our favorite trees to play in.... at Ashbury Park... the Matson Tree

Dedicated to the memory of the late W.M. Matson by the N.E. IMP, Assoc. Oct. 1922

Timaru Herald 28 October 1922 Page 14 Mr W. M. MATSON.

Throughout the South Island of New Zealand news of the death of Mr W. M. Matson, chief auctioneer for Pyne, Gould, Guinness, Timaru, will he received with very sincere regret. Mr Matson died on Wednesday night at his home in Timaru after an illness extending over three weeks.

He was the eldest son of Mr Conway Matson, Christchurch, and was educated at Christ’s College. On leaving College he decided upon a mercantile career and was associated with his father’s business, Conway, Matson and Sons, for some years.

He afterwards joined the firm of H. Matson and Co., and later left that firm to join the staff in the Southland .Farmers’ Co-operative Association. About eight years ago Mr Matson joined the staff of Pyne Gould, Guinness, Ltd., for which firm he became chief auctioneer. Mr Matson was well known throughout the South Island, especially to the farming community among whom he had worked all his life.

He was a particularly good man among wool and stock, and possessed of a happy disposition he made many fiends among all classes of the community. What farmers and pastoralists specially liked about him was the straightforward lines on which he always did business: they knew that whatever he told them could be absolutely relied upon, and in consequence they always felt a sense of satisfaction in doing business with him.

So busy a man as the late Mr Matson was unable to find time for much public service, but at the time of his death he was a member of the North End Improvement Association, and was keenly interested in the affairs of the Borough. Before business absorbed practically all his time he was much interested in sport, and was a prominent figure in amateur athletic circles in Christchurch.

Mr Matson, who was only 43 years of age, married Miss Fear, of Woodend, and is survived by his widow and two- children who will be widely sympathised with in the loss of an exemplary husband and father:

Flags were flown at half-mast on several business places in town as a mark of respect to the memory of the deceased, whose funeral will leave his father's residence in Christchurch today for St. Paul’s Churchyard, Papanui.

The last photo is of a plaque in Christchurch at St Paul's, Papanui, around the Matson Family plot.