Mrs Ethel Riches Came From Pioneer Family

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30947, 31 December 1965, Page 2

Mrs Ethel Riches Came From Pioneer Family

Mrs Ethel Viles Riches, who died at her Akaroa home on December 26, was the widow of Mr P. G. Riches, who for more than 30 years was Town Clerk of Akaroa. She was 71.

Mrs Riches took a particular interest in Red Cross work, was an active member of the Akaroa branch of the society almost since its inception, and served as president and secretary. Mrs Riches was also prominent in the Country Women’s Institute. She was a member of a family that has fanned at Flea Bay, near Akaroa, since 1852. Flea Bay was the first of the peninsula bays to be settled. It was acquired in 1839 by a

Sydney partnership, Messrs Cooper, Holt and W. B. Rhodes, and in November of that year, Rhodes landed 50 head of cattle, the first in Canterbury, to graze the property.

He left a manager in charge, and the property passed to the three Rhodes brothers—W. 8., George and Robert Heaton—whose extensive land holdings included the 150,000-acre Levels run at Timaru. This property was stocked with surplus sheep from Flea Bay. In 1852, Israel Rhodes (no relation) bought the Flea Bay property. Mrs Riches was his grand-daughter, and her nephew, Mr K. A. Rhodes, now farms the land.