OBITUARY

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27116, 12 August 1953, Page 11

OBITUARY

FATHER P. F. KANE (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, August 11. o X” 6 ev - Father Paul Francis Kane, S.M., died at the Marist Brothers’ House, Mount Albert, this morning, aged 61. He was a former All Black Rugbv representative. Father Kane was returning to Nelson from a visit to Australia and was to have left for Nelson this morning. Born at Timaru, he was educated at the Marist Brothers’ School, Timaru, and St. Patrick’s College, Wellington. He . was ordained at the Marist Brothers’ Seminary, Greenmeadows, by Archbishop Redwood in 1917. Father Kane did parish work at Reefton, Christchurch, Wellington, Napier, and Nelson, and for many years carried out mission work in Australia and New Zealand. He was on the staff of St. Patrick’s College. Wellington, and later was vice-rector of St. Patrick’s College. Sil verstream. At the time of his death he was parish priest of Nelson. As “Paul Markham.” Father Kane represented New Zealand at Rugby football, playing at second five-eighth against New South Wales in 1921. He also played far Wellington for a number of years and for the Marist Club, Wellington. MR ARTHUR WILSON (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, August 11. The death has occurred after a Jong illness of Mr Arthur (“Ranji”) Wilson, a former noted All Black forward. When Lord Freyberg was saying farewell to the Rugby fraternity at Athletic Park. Wellington, last year, he said that if he were asked whom he considered the greatest back he ever saw, he would have more than one player in mind. If, however, he were asked for his greatest forward, he would reply unhesitatingly “ ‘Rang? Wilson.” His proudest moment in his own Rugby career, said Lord Freyberg, was when a critic described his game as “reminiscent of ‘Ranji’ Wilson.”

Until B. J. Lloyd recently challenged his record. “Ranji” Wilson stood supreme as the player who had represented Wellington the most times. Between 1906 and 1920 he played 75 matches for Wellington, and four for New Zealand. Except for 1909 and 1910 he played for the North Island every year from 1907 to 1914. His All Black appearances were in 1908, 1910, 1913, and 1914. He served with the Ist N.Z.E.F. from 1914 to 1918, and was a member of the New Zealand Army team that won the services tournament in Britain later.