OBITUARY

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 104, 30 October 1933, Page 11

OBITUARY

MR. GEORGE N. GOLDIE

SERVICES TO TENNIS

The many friends, in all parts of New Zealand, of Mr. George N. Goldie recoived a sad shock to hear of his death yesterday morning at his residence in Austin Street following a heart attack.

The late Mr. Goldio was born in Port Chalmers in 186S, and had resided in Wellington for over forty years, a period in which ho made many new friends, and lost no old ones. Particularly was ho known as a great worker for tho sport of tennis, but ho had many other interests besides this main hobby. As a young man he roughed it in the survey of the North Island Main Trunk lino between Kahikahi and Taumarunui, and then down the Ohura, and it was in .these years that he gained an interest which held through his life, a real understanding and lovo of the Maori people, with whose loaders he remained on tho friendliest footing long after he had centred his main affairs in tho city.

In 1889 Mr. Goldie came to Wellington and joined tho old Submarine Mining Corps, or Torpedo Corps (Royal New Zealand Engineers), which had as one of its main functions the laying and maintenance of submarine mines at port entrances. In the course of this work ho narrowly escaped death when he was dangerously injured by an explosion of guneottoa at Shelly Bay. Several lives were lost, and Mr. Goldie lay in hospital for six months boiore returning to hir. corps. Shortly aftorwards he joined the firm which later became Ferguson and Osborne, in whose service he remained for thirtytwo years, retiring about three years ago.

After entering into business Mr. Goldio maintained his interest in defenco and volunteer work, and took an active interest in sport and athletics, not alone in tennis, for ho was on the New Zealand Rugby Union management committee when the 1904 All Blacks visited England, he was a half and a three-miler on the track, and a rowing enthusiast and coach. Ho was an active volunteer officer for many years, and during the early war years lent an enthusiastic hand.in the training of recruits for the artillery.

In 1903 ho was appointed honorary secretary to the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association, and held that position for several ' year 3. His resignation from, that position by no means ended his work for tennis, foi ho remained a member of the council of tho association, and was more recently appointed a life member of. tho Now Zealand, and also of the Wellington Lawn Tennis Association.. For many years he was on the selection committee of both the New Zealand and Wellington Associations, and several times- he managed touring tennis, teams. . ' Though Mr. Goldie's name was naturally most mentioned in connection with adult and competition tennis, his greatest interest lay with tho juniors and school-children who were coming on to become the juniors and seniors of the future, and it was:this interest which: so. largely actuated, him in promoting, with • Mr. J. C. Peacock and others, tho big Miramar tennis court scheme. He was instrumental also in getting the handsome Ferguson Cup presented for tennis competition among

tho children of Wellington, district schools. As "Huka," writing in tho "Evening Post," Mr. Goldie gave advice- to many thousands of young players, for his tennis notes were/reprinted in papers throughout tho Dominion. His son,- Mr. Noil Goldip, was once junior national champion, and was also a winner of the Wellington metropolitan singles championship.

Tho late Mr. Goldie* was always an advocate of amateurism, in sport, maintaining that the'player should play for the health and enjoyment that his sport gave. ■ ■ ' ■

A Now Zealand oi- a Wellington tennis tournament will lack something real now that Mr. Goldie has gone, for lie was a figure at all these gatherings, and much more than a mere figure, for his support was never that of a looker-on, and at meetings of the two associations his advice and bright personality ; will be much missed.

He is survived by Mrs. Goldie, and by his son, who is A member of the staff of the City Engineer's Department.