BILL BOYES.

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 2873, 17 February 1916, Page 4

BILL BOYES.

AN INTERESTING CAREER

There is iv Timaru just now (says tho Herald) a remarkable personality Mr W. W. Boyes, of JNew Zealand (as he puts it liiiii.selfJ. Mr Boycs will bo 81 years of age next mouth, but ho is a.s full of life and vigour as most men of 50. Some of bis earlier years were .spent in Queensland, and he desceibes hiitnself as the founder of St. Lawrence ; a township ■established in 1801, while iii 1805 he was helping to place Tow.nsville on tlio map. He had tJie proud distinction of being the fa.ther of the first ohfkl born in Townsville. Of late yeairs Mr Boyes kas been in New Zealand, and though he had made Auckland liis headquarters, he .says tha-t ln's home is all over New Zealand, siince he is running about between Auckland and the Blulf. Even at his age travelling appears to be quite a pleasant pursuit. This remarkable pld man is. a painter and ai poet. He has on view in Chrdsteihurch at present a large allegorical picture representing peace, and ,he ihas written an explanation of the picture in verse. He carries wij.-h him in kxiJiet form an ode entitled. "(JaLlipoli, ,1 which was writU'u. last-August. Mr Boyes also has two songs of his own writing.

"The Kaiser Hate" is a stirring song, set to music by Mr Harry Hisoocks, organist of St. Patrick's Cathedral, Auckland. Mr Boyes himself has designed a .striking cover, for this publication. His second song, "The Trooper's Farewell,", is quite in keeping witih the times, and has been sung with considerable .success in Auckland.