Charles Wood

The last original student of the College died in Christchurch on August 14th 1957, in his 94th year, and with the passing of Charles Wood there closed a 76 year connection with the College. He was the second student to enrol when the School of Agriculture opened at Lincoln in 1880 and he completed the three year course of study. Mr Wood was the third son of Mr William Derisley Wood, who arrived in the Randolph in 1850 and established the first flour mill in Christchurch. The business is still carried on under the name of Wood Brothers and Mr Wood was one of its directors up to his death.

Born at Mill House, Christchurch, in 1863, he received his early education at Cook's School, Christchurch, and in 1882 took over the management of the Swyncombe run at Kaikoura for his father. About five years later he bought part of the run and thus established Lynton Downs.

While he was in the district Mr Wood was chairman of the Kaikoura County Council, captain of the Kaikoura Mounted Rifles and chairman of directors of the Kaikoura Dairy Company.

In 1907 he sold Lynton Downs and went with his wife (formerly Miss Lucy Flower, of Kaikoura) and family, to England, where he remained for three years for the children's education. On his return to New Zealand Mr Wood bought a house in Leinster Road and, in partnership with Mr B. Seth-Smith, bought the Cheddar Valley run at Waiau. He ultimately took over full ownership of the run and sold it in 1953.

During World War I. he was a leading figure in the Citizens' Defence Corps in Christchurch and also in its later role as a body voluntarily assisting in the rehabilitation of demobilised servicemen.

Golf was a favourite pastime of Mr Wood and for many years he played on a low handicap at Shirley, where he was a life member of the Christchurch Golf Club. He regularly attended the match for the Randolph Cup, given by the Wood family. He is survived by four of his five children and his son Mr D. T. Wood of Whangarei was a student at the College in 1909-11, gaining his Diploma. A grandson, E. Murchison, took the Intensive course in 1953 and is farming in North Canterbury.

His interest in the College continued throughout his long life. He was among those who contributed generously to the Old Students' fund that made possible the erection of the Memorial Hall in 1924. He gave full support to the Old Students' Association and took pleasure in attending the annual reunion. On Diploma Day at the end of 1954 he presented to the College a plaque commemorating the decision of the Board of Governors to name the original building Ivey Hall in honour of W. E. Ivey, the first director,

1878-92. The severance of this bond between the College now in its 77th year and with one of the foundation students of 1880, is indeed sad to accept. We were fortunate to derive the advantages of this span of years for so long. Source: Canterbury Agricultural College Magazine, October 1957, No. 82, p73.