THE LATE MR REEVES.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIV, Issue 126, 4 June 1910, Page 7

THE LATE MR REEVES.

AN EVENTFUL CAREER

The late Hon. R. H. J. Reeves, M.L.C., who died in Nelson on Wednesday, was one of the oldest and best-known residents of New Zealand. His was indeed a venturesome career. Born at Enniscortby, Ireland, in 1836, he was first educated at Barrow Grammar School, and subsequently at Tarvin, Cheshire, England. His father was a wine

and spirit merchant in Ireland, but voting Reeves early decided to go m lor seafaring life. Those youthful days were venturesome days. After roaming the high seas, he landed in Tasmania in 1848, when still quite a boy, and stayed there for four years. Then the fever of the Victorian goldfields broke out, and Reeves, like many others, started for Bendigo. Fortune favored him in at •least a modest degree, and the year 1863 saw him firmly established in Hokitika—the Hokitika of the "roaring" days with 20,000—in a comfortable auctioneering business. Subsequently he transferred his business to the Ahaura, where he went in exfor cattle-dealing, in addition to auctioneering. Old West Coasters state that at this time Mr Reeves, or, as he was then known to everybody on the Coast, "Dick Reeves," was the most popular man in the locality. On one occasion, when, he was absent in Australia, he was elected first member for Hokitika in the Canterbury Provincial Council, but he resigned on his return to New Zealand, owing to pressure of business. From the first he manifested a lively interest in public affairs, and in 1878 first entered the House of Representatives as a Member for Grey Valley. Later he represented Reefton, and subsequently Mangahua. Until 1893, when he was defeated by Mr P. J. O'Regan, he sat continuously in the House of Representatives, and from 1895 until the time of his death he was a member of the Legislative Council. Most of the deceased gentleman s old associates have passed away. There are a few men in Wellington to-day who knew him in the early sixties—notably Messrs F. M'P,arland, now proprietor of the Hotel Cecil, the .Messrs Gilmer and Dwan, and a few others. Like the Hon. Mr Holmes, who died only a short time ago, the Hon.; Mr Reeves was one of the links with the historic past. Ever courageous, he spent more than one fortune in mining adventures on the Coast. Politically, he was beloved by the miners, who always voted solidly .for him. His1 greatest. contest for the House, was that in which he defeated Mr Drake for Inangahua after a recount. Personally,' the late Mr Reeves was an extremely affable friend; well liked by all who knew him; ever ready to lend a helping hand, and the friend of the distressed at all times. That is the epitome of his life as expressed by his oldest friends here, and it is about the best tribute than can be offered to his memory.

One -notable incident of his life was recalled by Mr L. Dwan. At the time of the Fenian demonstrations in connection with what was known as the Manchester Martyrs, Mr Reeves had arranged to act as marshal of, a Hibernian, procession in Hokitika. He was arrested by the police and imprisoned, but later on dressed his own children in green and marched them through the streets. MiReeves was a Protestant Irishman, with a great love for his native country. He experienced the ups and downs of pioneering life, anc| the bast tribute to his memory was' that he was beloved by his fellows. Mrs Reeves died over a year ago, but the late Mr Reeves leaves a large family of married daughters and one son.