MR C. N. CLAUSEN

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 201, 26 July 1937, Page 6

MR C. N. CLAUSEN

NATURE LOVER PASSES. SERVICE AS COUNCILLOR. A lover of birds, animals and trees — an instinct which was to him most deep throughout his life —Mr Christian Nicolai Clausen, one of Palmerston North’s best known and moyt highly respected residents, passed away suddenly shortly before 10 o’clock last evening at the residence of his daughter, Mrs Paul Ornberg, 187 Victoria Avenue. Mr Clausen had had hardly a day s illness, apart from disabilities suffered in accidents, he having broken a leg some eight years ago. Mr Clausen, who was i 6 yeare of age, was born in Schleswig-Holstein, territory ceded back by Germany since the Great War to Denmark. With his parents, Mr and Mrs Andreas Clausen, and many other Scandinavians of sturdy pioneering 6tock who settled in this district, he came to Palmerston North over sixty years ago, the voyage to New Zealand being made in the ship Terpsichore, which had a long and eventful journey, all the passengers being quarantined tor a period at its termination, owing to an outbreak of sickness on board. Though, with his brothers, Mr Clausen took up farming on Foxton Line, where the original homestead is stilL held by the family, he soon disposed of his interest in this property to start in business a 6 a timber merchant in Palmer6ton North some 43 years ago, operating mills at Pokaka, in the Waimariiio County, and one of his first big contracts was to supply totara sleepers for the South Island railway. He steadily built up the business of the Tiratu Sawmilling Company, later transferring its premises to Rangitikei Street, ami in 1900, with Airs Clausen, made a holiday trip to his native Denmark. Inherently a naturalist, and a very experienced bushman, Mr Clausen always found the call of the out-ol-doors very hard to resist and, before anything else, he preferred the simple life in the open, finding no physical discomfort in it. Alany years ago he made the traverse of the Ruahine Ranges from Pohangina to Dannevirke, and it could well lie said that he knew practically every ridge and watershed in the Tararuas, the heights of which were to him like an open book. A keen observer of Nature, lie had an extensive knowledge of native plants and shrubs; he treasured bush flowers and regarded the destruction of such growth as sacrilege. His kindness found its expression in his fondness for birds and animals, to whom he would gladly have given his last scrap of food. He preferred sleeping under canvas to indoors, and would never have other than a straw or a hay bed. it was typical of the character of the deceased gentleman that he was a most active supporter of the S.P.C.A., and was honorary organiser ( in Palmerston North for Dr. Barnardo’s Homes, every year undertaking a collection. on behalf of the latter. Despite his great love of the outdoor life, he found time to give periods of municipal service as a councillor from 1905 to 1911, from 1916 to 1919, and from 1927 to 1931, and it was largely through his determined opposition that tramlines were not laid in Palmerston North when the issue was a very live one in municipal politics 20 years ago. For thirty years Air Clausen was a member of the Palmerston Licensing Committee, at one time he was chairman of the College Street School Committee and, as a former member of the Hospital Board, he was largely instrumental in organising hospital collections. He was still a member f the Chamber of Commerce at the tit-v of his death

Of the brothers of the late Air Clausen—AJessrs Andreas, A. E. and F. J, Clausen —only the last mentioned now survives. Airs Du Fresne (Wellington; is a sister, another sister having been the late Airs De Vantier, of Palmerston North. Air Clausen was predeceased many years ago by his wife, formerly Miss H. C. Olsen. Their two daughters are Alls P. Ornberg (Palmerston North) and Airs W. A. Box (Owhango) and there are three grandchildren. The sympathy of many friends will be extended to the bereaved family. The interment will take place at the Palmerston North, cemetery on' Wednesday.