W. J. HAWKINS

Hokitika Guardian, 24 November 1928, Page 6

W. J. HAWKINS

(Contributed)

There died at tlie Westland Hospital on the 20th inst., Mr M. J. Hawkins, a very highly respected resident of Bruce Bay. Ihe late Mi Hawkins was a native of Australia. Born at Tarn Gully about 70 years ago. His father Mr Dan Hawkins predeceased him about 30 years ago in the Westland Hospital. He was a famous boatman landing goods tiom vessels in the offing at Bruce Baj, and at Foxes, New Brighton, the time of the gold rushes, and had few equals for surfing in those days. A anke> Dan as he was familiarly called was one of the early pioneers of South Westland and when crossing the Peringa River near its mouth on a raft with a couple of mates, was supposed to lie drowned. The raft went to pieces however and one man drowned. The newspaper report of the occurrence said it was Hawkins, and in due time reached his wife am family in Victoria. The subject of this narrative was apprenticed to learn carpentering and when following his occupation as a carpenter years afterwards in Auckland, New Zealand, happened to look up the Post Office directory of South Westland and saw the name of Dan Hawkins, Paringa. As it was the river where his father was supposed to have been drowned, lie very naturally thought there might he some mistake, and eventually took a trip to South Westland to investigate. On arrival a.t. Paringa he found his father working black sand surface. The meeting T believe was not too cordial on account of him not contradicting the report of his death. However, tathoi and son worked at Paringa together for two or three years when Mr Hawkins, sen., ended his career m the Westland Hospital as stated. The subject of Ibis narrative shifted to Hunt’s Beach where lie worked black sand surface up till some twelve months ago when failing health made it necessary to seek medical advice. He ihad lbeen a patient in the Greymouth and Westland Hospitals lor the last nine or ten months and during his last few weeks bore his painful complaint with manly fortitude. The late Mr Hawkins’s genial personality will he very much missed in the Bruce Bay district, where he Was so long and favourably- known. He took a lively interest in all affairs that was of interest to the district.