OBITUARY

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25366, 13 December 1947, Page 8

OBITUARY

MR R. W. S. EASTWOOD Mr Richard William Saunders Eastwood, formerly assistant-editor of the “Weekly Press,” died in Christchurch yesterday afternoon, aged 91 years. Mr Eastwood was a member of the staff of the Christchurch Press Company, Ltd., for 45 years. Born in London in 1856. Mr Eastwood came to New Zealand as a married man in 1879. A jobbing compositor with considerable experience in London, he secured employment with “The Press” in that capacity. He was one of the six men retained by the firm in the difficult period which followed his arrival. In the early 1880’s Mr Eastwood was appointed assistant printer of the “Weekly Press,” which position he held until 1900. His journalistic ability having been recognised, he became assistant-editor of the same journal. By this time he had become well known throughout New Zealand as “Bullseye,” the writer of the Volunteer and Service notes in the “Weekly Press.” In 1896 he wrote a notable report of the Australasian rifle match fired at Oamaru, the sequel of which was an invitation from the council of the Federated Rifle Associations of Australasia to visit Australia as their guest, and report the cup match to be fired in Melbourne. This offer was unprecedented. The scheme of national defence proposed by “Bullseye" in the columns of “The weekly Press” was mentioned in Parliament with approval, and adopted as the basis' of the final system. Retiring from the employment of the company in 1924, Mr Eastwood was presented with an address signed by 76 members of the staff. He was a member of the Opawa Bowling Club, and a life member of the Robert Burns Masonic Lodge. Mr Eastwood’s wife died about 30 years ago. He had three sons and a daughter. His eldest son, Mr Richard Eastwood, served on “The Press” as a compositor, and then, like his father, took up literary work. He later joined the literary staff of the “Lyttelton Times” and then the “Gisborne Herald.” He died two years ago. The two other sons are Messrs E. Eastwood, who has retired and lives in Christchurch, and O. E. Eastwood, an accountant, of Greymouth. Mrs J. Owen, of Christchurch, is the only daughter. There are seven grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

MR M. MCGAVIN (P.A.) WELLINGTON. December 12. The death has occurred of Mr Michael McGavin. a well-known member of the Labour movement in New Zealand. He was bom in Dublin, and arrived in New Zealand in 1913. He was in Hokitika from 1917 to 1934. when he moved to Wellington. MR R. C. HORTON (P.A.) AUCKLAND. December 11 Mr Robert Chisholm Horton, a director of Wilson and Horton, Ltd., has died at the age of 75. He was the second son of the late Mr and Mrs A. G. Horton, and was not married. J&J