Francis Henry Smith

Born: 1868, Long Bay, Tasmania, Australia Died: 17 August 1936, (aged 69), Albury, Canterbury, NZ SMITH, FRANCIS HENRY (1868-1936) was born at Long Bay, Tasmania, and came to New Zealand with his parents, who were interested successively in the Rollesby, Mistake and Wolds stations in the Mackenzie country. Smith was educated at Burkes Pass and Timaru main school, and after spending a few years under his father bought Albury Park, held it for some years and then purchased Waratah, where he farmed for the remainder of his life. He was a competent flockmaster, exhibited sheep with success in many shows and exported stud sheep to South America. As a young man he was a fine athlete (440 yards hurdles and captain of the Mackenzie football club), and he was for a while lieutenant in the Mackenzie Mounted Rifles. He was a member of the Timaru harbour board and the High School board. He contested Timaru against Hall-Jones (1902) and Waitaki against Steward (1909), and was elected for the latter seat in 1911. Standing for Timaru in 1914, he was defeated by Craigie. Smith died on 17 Aug 1936.

1911-12-20 [2]

New Zealand Herald 22 January 1898
F. H. Smith (Waimea) is a country player, and has not tho same opportunity of Improvement as is afforded a town resident. He competed at the Dunedin Congress in 1893-1891 for the first time, and in the opinion of players who met him then, he now shows considerable advance, though not yet quite up to Congress form. He was well liked by the other contestants, and always took bis defeats in good part.


Timaru Herald 18 August 1936
OBITUARY
MR F. H. SMITH Mr Francis Henry Smith, of “Waratah,” Albury, one of the best known sheepbreeders in South Canterbury, died yesterday morning in his sixty ninth year. Mr Smith wa.s bopn in Tasmania, and came to New Zealand at an early age with his parents. He was educated in Timaru, and in 1896 and 1902 unsuccessfully contested the Timaru seat against Mi’ William (afterwards Sir William) Hall-Jones. From 1911 to 1914 he represented Waitaki in the House pf Representatives. Mr Smith served for periods on the Timaru Harbour Board and the Timaru High Schools Boards. He is survived by hip widow, one son and two daughters.


NZ Chess Championships Results

Year	Location	Won	Draw	Lost	Points	Place
1893-94	DUNEDIN - 7th	1	0	9	1	11
1897-98	AUCKLAND - 11th	2	0	10	2	12-13
1919-20	WELLINGTON - 29th	2	0	11	2	12

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
References:
[1] A Dictionary of New Zealand Biography : M–Addendum. Vol. II.
[2] Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections NZG-19111220-0026-13