REEFTON NOTES

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 June 1927, Page 2

REEFTON NOTES

(Our Own Correspondent.) REEFTON, June 20. The death took place at the Reefton Hospital on Saturday of one of the oldest residents of the district in the person of James Roxborough, sen., at the age of 88 years. Deceased arrived on the West Coast in 1866 and was employed carting between Hokitika and Ross. He arrived in the Inangahua district in 1880 and was for a time proprietor of the Crushington Hotel and engaged in coal mining at Lankey’s Creek. He took over the Railway Hotel at Reefton in 1886 until 1903, when he retired. Subsequently he was employed by the Public Works Department, but of late failing health compelled him to enter the Hospital. He was connected with the Reefton Jockey Club since his arrival in the district, and for years was Clerk of the Course • and was also a foundation member of the Trotting Club. In both branches of this sport he took a keen interest right up to the last. At one time he ran a trotting horse with varying success. His only son, Mr Jas. Roxborough, is employed at the Railway Department, Hokitika.

On Saturday evening the employees of the Reefton Coal Co. entertained Mr Leslie T. Harris at a farewell social prior to his departure for Dobson, where he enters the employ of the Dobson Collieries. Mr Jno. Baird presided over a gathering of some thirty-five fellow-workers, and after the loyal toast had been honoured, proposed the toast of “Our Guest,’’ and referred to the good feeling existing between Mr Harris during his term as deputy and the men employed on the property, and asked him to accept, on behalf of the men, a handsome travelling rug as a token of their esteem, and hoped success and good health would attend him in his hew sphere of labour. Mr Harris thanked the speaker for his good wishes and all present for their splendid gift, and hoped success would attend the Reefton Coal Co.’s employees land the company in its future operations. During the evening songs were rendered by Messrs H. Currie, N. Bolitho, H. Duggan, L. Harris and W. Clark, a monologue by Mr Manson. Messrs N. Bolitho and C. Hendry acted as accompanists. The gathering dispersed with the singing of Auld Lang Syne, and g* od washes for their guest’s future. Mr Haris leaves Reefton on Saturay next for Dobson. Rev. Father Herring returned from Christchurch by Saturday’s overland train. • Mr Fred Keating, of Stevenson’s Hotel, left by the Nelson car on Saturday morning for Wellington, where he attends the meeting of the National Council of the Licensed Victuallers’ Association.