Well-Known Greymouth Resident Is 95 Today

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29268, 28 July 1960, Page 17

Well-Known Greymouth Resident Is 95 Today

One of Greymouth’s oldest residents, Mr William Meldrum.'Will celebrate his 95th birthday today. Born at Kamo, North Auckland. Mr Meldrum passed his law examinations in Auckland in 1888 after one term at the university which had only then opened. He was admitted to practice the following year and for the ‘ next three years worked for an Auckland firm without salary. Mr Meldrum afterwards practised in partnership at Kawakawa with Mr (later Sir John) Reed

He moved to Thames and later to Hunterville, where he remained for more than 20 years Territorial Service Before World War One he had 14 years’ service with the volunteers and territorials and it was to that experience that Mr Meldrum attributed his success as a soldier. He commanded the Wellington Mounted Rifles at the outbreak of war and was promoted Brigadier General in 1917. On his return from overseas, Mr Meldrum took up farming at

Waipukurau, but when the price of wool dropped from Is 5d to 6d a pound, he returned to legal practice in New Plymouth. In 1920, he was appointed a magistrate on the West Coast and retired from this position after 13 years. In his younger days, Mr Meldrum was a keen sportsman. He toured with the Auckland cricket team in 1884 and took 16 wickets for an average of about 11 runs in matches against Otago, Canterbury and Wellington. He represented Auckland at both Rugby and cricket in 1886, playing three times against the touring New South Wales Rugby, team. He played cricket at Rangitikei and golf for a Wanganui club on a handicap of 3. He won the Greymouth Golf Club’s championship in 1924, and in 1938 at the age of 73, won the first West Coast Returned Servinces’ Association golt tournament held at Westport. Chess Champion Mr Meldrum Won the singles championship of the Greymouth Bowling Club in 1934 and was New Zealand chess champion in 1896. He also won the Taranaki Chess title and was for several years champion of the Greymouth club. For three years he was judge of elocution at the annual festival of the Greymouth Competitions Society. Mr Meldrum is a life member of the Marton Jockey Club, the Hunterville Masonic Lodge, the Greymouth R.S.A. Bowling Club and the Greymouth Social Club He enjoys very good health and is a keen gardener. In the summer he is a regular afternoon player at the Greymouth or R.S.A. bowling greens. Three years ago he stopped playing golf Melbourne for the spring carthe Caulfield Cup.