HOKITIKA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 3 August 1935, Page 2

HOKITIKA NOTES

(Our Own Correspondent.) HOKITIKA, August 2. Quit© a number of football enthusiasts have left Westland for Blenheim ! to witness to-niorroiw’s match for tho Seddon Shield. It is hoped .that tho West Coast team, the majority of the players in which arc from “Wesuland, will bo successful in their effort to bring back the trophy. On Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock, Humphrey’s Gully Rugby team play Kiwis at Arahura ground, the latter 1 team being as follows: Walker, Stop forth,. Roberts. Turley, Toohcy, Craig P. Diedrich, C. Growcott. G. Stapleton, Hewlett, R. Olson, Harris. Martini, P. Mitchell, Webb, Morgan. Leslie. At the All Saints’ Hall a juvenile concert will be given a.t 2.30. p.m. tomorrow as a wind-up for the babv photographic competition of the Plunket Society. At 4.30 p.m. the winners of th© competition will be announced and the prizes will be presented. Votes for the various candidates may be recorded during .the concert until 4.30 p.m. A final urgent appeal Is made to the public to assist th e society to raise funds in the furtherance of its objects. The Fire Brigade ball is being* held nex't Wednesday. General regret is fe’t at tli 0 . death of Mr John Ritchie, the well-known South Westland pioneer,, who passed away in his 91st year at the residence of his daughter, Mrs James Nolan, of Wataroa. yesterday afternoon. ’ A native of Rasiblestown, County Antrim. Ireland, ho was born on December 27. 1844. and came to this country in 1865, landing at Dunedin from the steamer Carribou on July 14. In the following November he came to Hokitika aboard the Lady Darling, and then followed the gold rushes for some time, until he ult'imaltcly settled ip South Westland., making Bruce Bav his headquarters, over a long period of years. Flo 'was very hospitable, and his homestead was a very welcome place of call to travellers in the earlv days. A man of fine character, upright and generous, ho won a. wide circle of friends, by whom he was held in the highest respect. For some years he was a member of tho Southern Riding of the Westland County Council, where his experience in South Westland proved of distinct va’ne. A Justice of the Peace, he filled a great want in the far south. Tn his late» I years, Mr Ritchie had retired from 1 active service, and had spent’ his time in paying visits to the homes of his familv in tho several centres. Some months ago his health failed, but he later had enough adventure left to make a flight with Mr Mercer in his aeroplane, lie mas predeceased by his wife many years ago. He leaves a family of throe daughters (Mrs Jamas Nolan., of Wataroa. Mrs W. I). No’an, of Okuru. and Mrs Minehan, of Now Soul’h Wales); and two sons (Mr Robert Ritchie, the well known settler of Jacob’s River. South Westland. and Mr William Ritchie, a well-known settler of Koiterangi). Tho passing of such a sterling pioneer is a distinct loss |o the community and general sympathy win bo extended to the members of the family iri their bereave mo nt Tho football matches at Cass Square to-morrow will bo between the first and second flfloons of Hokitika D.H.S. and Grevmou’ll Technical School. .V 2 o’clock n combined foam from Ross State and Convent schools will play lhe Hokitika D.H.S. Primary school team. Tho teams to represent TTokiHka are: Ist XV—Ballinger-, Coles, J. Douglas, Rogers; J. TTinrahan, Parry; Diedrich; Browne, Johnstone. Thomas ’Richards, Pierson. Leslie. M. TTanrahau. Parker. Emergency: Paine. Under 8 stone—McMu’lan; Donaldson. Ingram. 'Robinson; Sfnon. Breeze; Muirennan; Keenan. K'mvan, Finch, Wolis. Veah». CJausi-n. Coilson. Armstrong. Emergencies: Menzies.