OBITUARY

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21181, 4 June 1934, Page 6

OBITUARY

MR DAVID ASHBY A Canterbury representative cricketer for 15 years, from 1875 to 1900, and one of the bowlers who helped to dismiss Auckland in 1878 for the lowest score recorded in an interprovincial match, Mr David Alexander Ashby died early on Saturday morning at the age of 82 years. Mr Ashby was born at Beddinglon, Surrey, in 1852, and began his cricket with the Croydon Amateurs. Passing through that to county cricket, he represented Surrey lor several seasons, and when only 19 years old played for tho All England colts against the Marylebone Cricket Club. He landed in New Zealand in 1875, [but finding no employment in Nelson,

packed his swag to Dunedin with a companion. Once more he could not find a position and came back to Christchurch. His cricketing genius found him a position with Mr William Wood in his ilour mill at Addington, and he remained with that firm for 50 years. In his first season in Canterbury he was included in the team which played Otago, and struck form almost immediately with both bat and ball. | He played in all the representative games against visiting sides from other countries while he was engaged in senior cricket. The historic occasion on which the Auckland side was dismissed for 13 runs, eight of which were byes, occurred in December, 1878. Mr W. F. Neilsen had taken a team to Auckland, and it was in its second innings that the northern province failed so miserably. On that occasion Mr Ashby took five wickets for two runs, and Mr W. Frith three wickets for three runs. When Mr Ashby joined the Midland Club in Christchurch he found that it was so strong that he and Mr Frith went over to the United Club. The English team which came to New Zealand in 1876 brought many sportsmen whom Mr Ashby had met in games while he was in England. Among his many personal friends who reached fame in English cricket Mr Ashby numbered V. W. C. Jupp and S. J. Southerton. the present editor of Wisden's Almanack. A few years later Mr Ashby played against another English touring side. When Mr W. Murdoch brought over an Australian team, including such plavers i as F. R. Spofforth, J. McC. Blackham, [ S. E. Gregory, a_nd the Bannermans, $Kx. Ashby. found, a place in the Can-

terbury side which defeated the visitors by six wickets. .The Australian? first innings produced only 46 runs, and Mr Ashby took two of their wickets for 19 runs. This was the Auitralians' only defeat before they went to England. Mr Ashby was a member of the Canterbury team which Mr Neilsen took to Australia and which won three of six matches in Victoria. . In 1882 Mr Ashby married Miss Maty Jane Haddrell, and he leaves one son and three daughters. The funeral will take place to-day.

MR JAMES ROLPH | ITJIUTED PRESS ASSOCIATION—BY ELECTS* TELEGRAPH —COPYRIGHT.) (Received June 3, 7.50 p.m.) SAN JOSE (California), June 2. Mr James Rolph, Governor of California, died this afternoon. He had been ill for two weeks with congestion of the lungs and a failing heart [Mr James Rolph was born at SM Francisco in August, 1869, and educated at Trinity Academy there. I» 1888 ho entered the service of a shipping firm as junior clerk. He progressed rapidly and founded a firm of his own, engag in general shipping business _ ana trading on commission. To this M added insurance by founding for tM purpose the firm of Jas. Rolph, W®" dis, and Ellis. Meanwhile he was becoming a leading figure in San Francisco business and social circles, was president of the Merchants E* change and of the Shipowners' Association of the Pacific Coast and an active member of the local Rep can organisations. In 1911, prelected Mayor of San Franc^ o ' laliu . was re-elected four times, to J , ary, 1931, he became Governor California for a term expiruig l ! January, 1935. He created a sen»™£ in November, 1933, by attitude wards the lynching of bdnspp«» murderers. Two men who were » custody at San Jose, Calif 'j er . the charge of kidnapping and ing the son of a wealthy mer were dragged from gaol by ® and hanged. Mr Rolph expressed proval of the mob's action. re 3 « time," he said, "that drastic: were taken to end kidnappingshould be a great lesson ™ e t hat tire world. We have sho idna p. California will not tolerate ins t ping." No action was taken ag the lynchers. Mr Rolph s attit of much criticised by representia n s, the churches and by p &e but he defended the lynehu g 0 j ground that it was a public feeling against flowed legal proceedings which oireu htli . a kidnapper to escape on a • cality.] -7

MR T. A. HICKS (PRKSS ASSOCIATION TEL*«RWIJ CAMBRIDGE, The death occurred to-day' short illness of one of tne e Waikato settlers, Mr ThomßS hnrn on bra Hicks, aged 62. He was the ship Alhambra, coming Zealand with his parerits i a t Mr Hicks had lived ever d of Cambridge, and had a fine 0 f bis public service. At the tun death he was chairman or ington Town and Domain Refo rm chairman of the Cambriag organisation, a member o kato Central Show and of bodies. He was never marri is survived by two sisters relatives