OBITUARY

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22306, 21 January 1938, Page 21

OBITUARY

MR J. L. FITZGERALD

The death occurred at his home at Blackspoint on Wednesday evening, after a long illness of Mr James Lawrence Fitzgerald. Mr Fitzgerald, who was a native o£ Fingal (Tasmania), was aged 62 years, and had lived, in this district for 34 years. He had been in bad health for almost 20 years, and seriously ill for some weeks. Mr Fitzgerald is survived by a widow, one son Mr Edward Fitzgerald, of the Public Works Department, and two daughters, Misses A. Fitzgerald and K. Fitzgerald, both of Reefton. The funeral will take place at Reefton this afternoon. SWIMMING MEETING OF GREYMOUTH CLUB OFFER OF FREE MEMBERSHIP TO CHILDREN To encourage children to swim, the Greymouth Swimming Club has offered free membership to all children who wish to become members of the club. Already about 50 have enrolled, and a meeting will be called shortly to discuss how best to inculcate among the children a love for "the art of swimming." This advice was given by members at a meeting of the club on Wednesday evening. It was stated that the club's action was influenced by the motives of "Learn-to-Swim-Week," and the hope was exnressed that as many children as possible would take advantage of the offer. In view of the approaching date for the West Coast championships it was agreed that more intensive training should be done on training nights, and a motion to this effect was carried. The delegates to the West Coast Centre were instructed to support the oroposal to have 2ft- 6in taken off boards at all championship carnivals. Preliminary arrangements for the holding of aswimming carnival at the Municipal Baths next week were made, and an offer by the Surf Life Saving Club to give a demonstration at the carnival was accepted. WESTPORT CLUB'S .MEETING There was a large attendance at the weekly evening swimming trials held bv the Westport Swimming Club in the municipal baths on Wednesday night. Results: — A Grade, 100 yards—C. Foote 1, D. Robertson 2. W. Todd 3. B Grade. 66 2-3 yards—Walpole 1. Lucy 2, Smith 3. Women's. SO yards—J. Mackay 1. V. Hopkirk 2, J. Watson 3. PERSONAL NOTES (JKEYMOUTH Mr and Mrs J. W. Greenslade <Greymouthi are visiting Christchurch. Mr H. Spark and Miss E. Spark, who have been visiting friends in Greymouth, left yesterday on return to Christchurch. Miss P. Goodyer (Wellington) is visiting tiie West Coast, and is the guest of Mr and Mrs H. Keith (Cobden). Misses C. and D. Wilson, who have been the guests of Mr and Mrs A. H. McKane (Cobden). left yesterday on return to Eketahuna. Miss F. Brown; who has been visiting her parents, Mr and Mrs L. Brown. High street, left yesterday on return to Wellington. Mr J. T. Curran (Invercargill) is visiting Greymouth. WESTPORT The Hon. W. H. Mclntyre. M.L.C. 'Millerton). chairman of the Nelson Education Board, has accepted the ■nvitation of the Richmond School Committee'to open the new school at Richmond, Nelson, on January 27. Miss N. McDonald (Granity) is visiting Dunedin. Mrs W. Williams, sen., Russell street, is visiting Nelson. Mr and Mrs J. Gallagher and Miss Gallagher (Hastings), who are spending a holiday in the Buller district, where Mr Gallagher formerly lived, left on Wednesday to spend a few days at Karamea. Mrs W. Williams, jun., and Miss Leah Williams, Russell street, are spending a holiday in Christchurch. Mrs A. Doig (Blackwater), and Miss C. A. Patterson (Auckland), sister and daughter respectively of Mr R. Patterson (Westport), are spending a holiday here. Before their departure for Oamaru. Mr and Mrs L. G. Ogg (Westport) were the guests of honour at a farewell gathering arranged by the social committee of the Westport branch of the New Zealand Party. On behalf of the branch, Mr Alf Ridsdale made a presentation to Mrs Ogg. and wished her and her husband happiness and success in Oamaru. Mr Ogg is in the service of the Railway Department. Misses Lola Delaney and Joan Ryder (Motueka') are at present in Westport on a walking tour of the northern half of the South Island Miss Delaney is a well-known athlete and has represented Nelson in Mahar Cup inter-club meetings. REEFTON Miss Joan Heslop (Christchurch) is spending a holiday in Reefton, and is the guest of Mrs E. W. Gebbie. Misses E. and M. O'Brien (Christchurch) are spending a holiday in Reefton. FAREWELL TO BANDSMAN The members of the Hokitika Municipal Band gathered in the bandroom on Monday evening to bid farewell to Mr R. W. Palmer, who. with his wife and family, will leave for Wanganui on Tuesday next. Mr C. Ross (conductor) expressed regret that Mr Palmer was leaving, but wished him prosperity and happiness. On behalf of the members of the band he presented Mr Palmer with a solid leather suit case in remembrance of his association with the band. Other members also joined in with expressions of goodwill. Mr Palmer thanked the members for their kind expressions and the gift, which was the most useful they could give him. He had obtained an immense amount of pleasure during the 13 years he had been a member of the band, which had always been a happy family. The librarian's report to the monthly meeting of the Westport Library Committee stated that 2220 books, 783 magazines, and 479 papers were issued during the month. Twenty new books were placed on the shelves, and 16 were withdrawn from circulation.