OBITUARY

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21792, 26 May 1936, Page 12

OBITUARY

MR JOSEPH CHADWICK

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AUCKLAND, May 25. Mr Joseph Chadwick, aged 79 years, a well-known sporting writer, died suddenly at his home at Remuera this morning.

Mr Joseph Chadwick was one of the oldest sporting journalists in New Zealand, and with his easy style of writing he combined a knowledge of horseflesh and sport generally not possessed by many people in New Zealand. Of an unassuming nature, Mr Chadwick was not slow to criticise sharply what he considered the mis- ! takes of handicappers and other officials. Behind his writings, however, was always the love of outdoor sport, and in racing, boxing, shooting, or any other pastime he was a constructive critic. Most of his time was spent m Auckland, taut for a number of years he was at Riccarton, and the older identities remember him as a kindly gentleman with his sole interests in sporting events and sportsmen He had played the outdoor games all his life, and with horses he was in ms element. A keen judge, a fearless, although not a very clever, rider, Joseph Chadwick spent a good part of his time in the saddle, and the best part of his life was lived in New Zealand at a time when hurdling and steeplechasing formed a bigger part of racing than they do to-day. There was no more popular sporting writer in New Zealand, and he enjoyed the confidence of ov/ners, trainers, and jockeys, as well as the sporting press of New Zealand. Mr Chadwick was born near Ararat. Victoria, in 1853. In “Men of Mark in the World of Sport,” a book he published, he tells a story of his very early days, before he was seven years old he had received some lessons in riding. He remembered a pony running away with him, and galloping home, distancing a small field of followers—some of them wel-ter-weights—whose horses had no chance in an unequal contest. This was on the Lachlan, New South Wales, and logs were jumped and finally a stable gate, in safety, thanks to the cleverness of the pony and parental foresight, for young Joseph had been strapped on! This was the first incident of a sporting nature that had impressed itself on his memory. In his Australian home, the young sportsman had seen kangaroo hunting, and ever in his memory was the picture of a horse, supposed to be owned by Gardner, the bushranger, which he had seen on the journey to Sydney. His first impressions of New Zealand were gained in Dunedin, but he was soon taken to Havelock and he settled in Wanganui. Wanganui at this time seemed to be better equipped with horses than any other part of New Zealand. In the year 1885 he attended his first race meeting, and to the day of his death he always kept in touch with the sport. He first blossomed out as a sporting writer in 18CJ, and continued in this line until 1874, and he then joined the staff of the “Waganui Herald.’’ under Mr John Ballance, who had not then entered parliamentary life. In between times he did a good deal of travelling with horses and cattle, and to Auckland in less than four years he took more than 1200 head of stock from the Wanganui-Tara-naki district. Many of the horses were great jumpers, and Mr Chadwick had every opportunity to show his skill over fences. He later settled in Auckland and never without a jumper or two, he travelled to many meetings in the North Island with varying success. He was continually buying and selling and had many good horses through his hands.

For a time he was a contributor to the Auckland “Bell” and “Observer,” and in February, 1889, he became sports editor of the “Weekly Press.” When the “Referee” joined forces with the “Weekly Press” ho was engaged on the paper until 1901, after which he returned to Auckland to join the staff of the Auckland “Star,” but he still retained his connexion with the “Weekly Press and Referee,” and until a few years ago he was a regular contributor under the name of “Spectator.”

In sporting journalism, Mr Chadwick set an example to many. Never extragavant in his views, he was n fair and competent critic and owners, trainers, and jockeys welcomed the advice he was always able to give on horses, horsemanship, and training methods. There never was a better judge, and few men have done more for the uplifting of the sport than Joseph Chadwick. In the seventies and the early eighties, Mr Chadwick was the bestknown handicapper for nrmy of the country clubs in the North Island, and later he was weight adjuster to the Wellington Racing Club. He was at different times starter and judge and in both positions he earned a reputation for honesty and keen judgment. Hunting over good, natural country was another pastime he enjoyed, and at one time he had a taste of active service while assisting his father in the commissariat of the Wanganui Cavalry, when that troop, under Captain Finnamore, and the Kai Iwi Cavalry, Corps were holding Titokowaru in check. In his book, Mr Chadwick relates many exciting experiences in the hunting field, especially at Aramoho, Wanganui, where the country was formidable, and the water, a deep, running brook, was the scene of many a swim. Mr Chadwick raced many good horses on his own account and in partnership with other owners, and some of the better performers included Satellite, Elsa, May Moon, Mystery, Exchange, Notice of Motion, Fair Play, Manaia, Marquis, Topthorn, Whalebone, Larry, and Quilp. On practically every course, from North Auckland to Riccarton, Mr Chadwick won races, and the nature of the travelling then was different from that to-day. Mr Joseph Chadwick, sen., for many years was a horse and cattle salesman in the Wanganui district, and early in life the son developed a love for the horse, and he received every encouragement, While he was a fine judge of all horses, his real love was for the steeplechaser, and even in his latest days he would discuss with an intimate knowledge the performances and the peculiar characteristics of all the great horses of the past. Mutiny, The Agent, Royalty, and Liberator were the favourites of his day, and his wonderfully retentive memory made him a fount of information for the younger generation of racegoers. He played his part in most healthy sports, including football, rowing, athletics, and boxing, and he was a keen coursing enthusiast. Mr Chadwick had an interest in trotting for a longer period than any other man in New Zealand, and was one of the first handicappers for the Wanganui Club, the first trotting club formed in New Zealand. With other trotting enthusiasts he imported a number of horses from America, and he saw B. Edwards drive in the first sulky made in New Zealand. He was the first to offer a prize for trotting in Auckland, and the trophy, a cup, is still in existence at Panmure. From the different sporting galleries of New Zealand, Mr Joseph Chadwick will be sadly missed. He represented the best type of sportsman, a modest winner, a good loser, and an always ready adviser- to the younger men he came in contact with.

MR ALFRED TYREE Mr Alfred Tyree died at Auckland on Sunday in his eightieth year. Born at Ramsgate in 1856, Mr Tyree arrived with his father in Dunedin in 1871 in the sailing ship Otago. Engaged early in his father’s boot manufacturing business, Mr Tyree was .later

connected with the firms of Bing, Harris and Company and Heymanson, Low and Company, until in 1886 he joined Mr Gavin Gibson as Christchurch attorney, and in 1888 became managing partner. In 1893 he formed the company of A. Tyree and Company, which operated throughout New Zealand as boot and shoe manufacturers and importers for many years. Since 1915 Mr Tyree had lived in Auckland, where he had been actively engaged until recently as a manufacturers’ representative. Mrs Tyree survives him; also his elder son, Mr J. V. Tyree, of Auckland, and only daughter, Mra J. C. Pirrit, at present of 13 Holmwood road, Christchurch, and four grandchildren. His second son. Corporal William A. Tyree, was killed in action in France in 1917. MR WILLIAM BARCLAY ITH£ PRESS Special Service.] OAMARU, May 25. The death occurred at Oamaru on Sunday evening, of Mr William Barclay, who was born at Oamaru and had spent almost the whole of his adult life in the Upper Waitaki district in association with the firm of Barclay Bros., storekeepers, of Hakataramea.

Mr Barclay was educated at Greta Street School, Oamaru. and On leavj ing school joined his father as a stonemason. A short time afterwards he went to Melbourne, where he carried on the same class of work. He returned to North Otago in 1887, and joined his brother, Mr James Barclay, in a store at Hakataramea, which was later extended to Kurow, where another brother, Mr Hugh Barclay, joined the firm. Through his business associations. Mr Barclay came into closest contact with the residents of the district, as he was not only storekeeper, but also general adviser and banker. For more than 40 years he filled the position of postmaster, and on his retirement from that position, the department eulogised his work. For many years Mr Barclay was treasurer of the Kurow Jockey Club, a member of Hakataramea School Committee, one of the oldest members of the Waitaki Collie Dog Club, and a foundation member of the Haka Tennis Club. He was one of the trustees of the Hakataramea Hall, and did not relinquish that position until the whole of the indebtedness on the building had been paid off. In addition to the .storekeeping business, Mr Barclay was interested in farming. He was a successful farmer in Hakataramea. and during the recent years of his retirement he controlled operations of a property at Duntroon.

Four years ago, Mr Barclay retired to Oamaru. He is survived by his widow, who was Miss Ross, of Hakataramea, a brother, Mr Hugh Barclay (Oamaru), and three sisters, Mesdames M. G. Young (Wellington), A. N. Hayes (Hakataramea), and A. Miller (Oamaru),