Obituary.

NZ Truth, Issue 73, 10 November 1906, Page 3

Obituary.

"Paddy" Lane.

News was received m Wellington, by cable, on Monday of the death m Sydney of that one-time brilliant player and always devoteeof Rugby football, Mr P. M. Lane?sfs|pane and Roberts, solicitors. General regret was- expressed on all sides as the news spread, for a more universally popular gentleman than "Paddy" Lane was not m New South Wales, and both as a visitor here and as a host to visiting teams m Australia, he was cordially liked and immensely admired. Never a New Zealand team went' ; to, Australia without coming back full of praise for Mr Lane's kindness and unfailing attention. Of a genial, sunny disposition, considerate and gentlemanly by nature, he loved to make everything agreeable for everybody around him and had his reward ..1 the .friendship and admiration of everyone who came m contact with him.

In the late eighties and well along; into the nineties, Paddy 'Lane was a shining light m Sydney ' football circles. He played win '•••-forward for that fine old club, the Wallaroo, and m that position had no superior m

the' State. He and Freddy Henlen (Rand-wick) used to be deadlyopponents m that position, and thouprh Lane was only about 11 stone to Henlen's 14 stone, the big man did not by any means always have the best of it. He was a great try- , petter m his time, was poor Lane, and popular with friend and foe a.like, on or off the field. After marriage and retirement j from active participation m the game Mr Lane continued to take a keeninterest m his favorite sport and was, at the time of his decease, a vice-president of the N.S.W.R.U., and one of its most active workers. He had been a selector for years. He was one of a N.S.W. team that toured New Zealand some years back and was always a consistent admirer of the N.Z. style of play, particularly m thfi forward division, and ,he never wearied of advocating its adoption * m his own native land. Mr Lane was also a fair amateur pedestrian, boxer and oarsman, and the writer can vouch for his ability with the doves, having: often had a "willing go I ', with dear old Paddy, m Polev's Old White Horse .' Hotel hall, (jeorge-street, Sydney. Both m social and sporting circles Mr Lane will be much, missed and deeply regretted. May the turf lie lightly on his kindly breast, now his generous, manly heart has ceased to throb.