page_title: George John Smith
section_title: Other activities
hierarchical_section_title: George John Smith / Other activities
caption_attribution_description: English: Riverlaw, Aynsley Terrace, Opawa, Christchurch.
context_page_description: Colonel George John Smith CBE was a New Zealand Member of Parliament for the City of Christchurch electorate in the South Island, and later a member of the Legislative Council.
context_section_description: Smith purchased Riverlaw from Hugh Murray-Aynsley in 1905, a substantial property and homestead on the Heathcote River at the bottom of Rapaki Track. He enlarged the house and added a third storey. After his death, Riverlaw was for many years used by the YWCA. On 6 September 1984, the house was registered with the New Zealand Historic Places Trust (since renamed to Heritage New Zealand) as a Category II heritage place, with registration number 3728; Riverlaw was regarded as one of the finest colonial homes in Christchurch. It was significantly damaged in the 2011 Christchurch earthquake and demolished soon after.
  Smith was for many years a member of the Board of Governors of Canterbury College (1903–1907, 1913–1917, 1920–1946). He was Chairmen of the Board of Governors from 1928 to 1932.
  In 1935, he was awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal.
caption: Riverlaw in Christchurch
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