Association and of the 1900 Jubilee Exhibition Committee. Allan's role and experience in exhibitions made him a natural choice for one of the Executive Commissioners of the New Zealand International Exhibition in 1906. G. S. Munro has been named as Government representative and Chairman of commissioners and Robert Allan named Vice-Chairman. Other commissioners included Sir John Hall (Mayor of Christchurch) and Mr. William Reece (ex-Mayor). It appears that Munro's dictatorial approach and treatment of his fellow commissioners took a serious toll on the organising committee and it is likely that in frustration Allan withdrew from the commission, sighting ill health as the reason. The Colonist of 11 August 1906 stated that Sir Joseph Ward had accepted Robert Allan's resignation. Though careful not to ascribe outright blame to Munro, the media were not fooled by the Allan's diplomatic resignation and pursued the matter that became known as "The Exhibition Trouble.’ `Sir Joseph Ward was forced to investigate the matter further. Family life On 14 April 1869 Allan was married to Martha Haswell Wood at St Michaels Church, Merivale by the Very Rvd. Dean Jacobs. The couple had five daughters and two sons. In 1881 Allan had purchased Glenmore in Hillsborough, Opawa from John Chapman who had bought the house the previous year from John Barton Arundel Acland of Mt Peel station. The house was built for Henry Selfe who was agent for the Canterbury Association but was rarely used by the first owner himself. Today, Glenmore is a Category II listed home by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust. Allan later purchased Abberley in Springfield Avenue, St Albans, Christchurch. Abberley had been built in 1863 by well known importer and merchant Thomas James Maling (1836-1922). It was a substantial home with vast gardens — including a caged cherry orchard. The two hectare private garden is today the grounds of Abberley Park. The house was demolished in the 1930s after the City Council purchased the property. Allan also owned rural land in Canterbury, Northland and a sawmill at Tarawhiti. One of the properties at Nukutawhiti, Whangarei, was farmed by his son Robert S Allan. Robert Allan was staying at Nukatawhiti, his son's sheep station in Northland, at the time of his death in 1927. Martha and Robert Allan are buried in the Bromley Cemetery, Christchurch. References Robert Allan - a biographical sketch, National Library of New Zealand, Simon Arcus (2010) The cyclopedia