PROVINCIAL SECTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24790, 15 December 1941, Page 7

PROVINCIAL SECTION

THE OAMARU DISTRICT

BURNED TO DEATH TRAGEDY AT HILDERTHORPE In the early hours of Sunday morning 'William, McPherson, aged about 80 years, and Alice May Simpson, aged about 36 years, )ost their lives in a fire at Hilderthorpe. when the house on Mr McPherson’s faith was razed to the ground. A dog, chained in a washhouse at the back of thc.JbuUding, was. also burned to death. About 2.30 o’clock in the morning a party of young men, going from Oamaru to Waitakl, noticed the glow of the lire, and;; made off in the direction of Mr McPherson’s house, but found that. the building had been completely destroyed, the washhouse then being ablaze. Nothing could be done to rescue the dog. The party reported to the police and Senior Sergeant T. I. McGregor and Con-: stable McNamara went to the farm, where they found the charred remains of (lie occupants lying on the beds, one in the front room and the other in a back room. With the assistance of Messrs Joseph Cruickshanks and W. Robertson. from a neighbouring farm, the remains were removed to the Oamaru morgue. . • - • A brother •of Mr William McPherson lives at Timaru, and a brother and sister of the other deceased, Mr John Simpson and ’ Mrs Arthurson, reside at Temuka. Mr' McPherson was one of the. very early ■ settlers of North* Otago.. He came out from Scotland in the ship James Nicol Fleming, and landed at Moeraki. He had been very successful in his farming pursuits, and had been very industrious. At the age of 80 years he was still shearing his own sheep and driving his own tractor. ,:

FOR THE EMPIRE’S CAUSE SAPPER F. B. KELK Sapper Francis Burkett Kelk, who is reported to have died of wounds, was the son of the late Mr Frank Kelk and Mrs Kelk, Greta street, Oamaru. He was born at Otekaike, and attended the Waitaki Boys’ High School. After leaving school he was employed by Mr J. Ford for a time, and then joined the Railways Department, being employed at Oamaru for 1 several years before being transferred to Christchurch, enlisting from there with the Second Echelon. While in Oamaru he was a member of the Oamaru Boating Club, and was in the champion fours in 1924, and he played Rugby for the old Celtic Football Club, and later for the Athletic. Football Club. He played for Otago railway teams against other provinces. He is survived' by his widow and daughter, his mother, three brothers— George (Waiareka), Harold (Waitaki Hospital Board, now in camp), and Stan. (Oamaru Post Office)—and a sister, Mrs Foss (Christchurch). A brother, William, was killed in the last Great War.

CRICKET ANOTHER CENTURY TO ROBERTSON Boyd Robertson again gave a. fine balling display on Saturday for Oamaru A against Albion, scoring 140 not out. He was the opening batsman, and hit three sixes, and 17 other boundaries. Tonkin made 21, Heasley 18, Gunn 12 and Watson 11. The side was dismissed for 222 runs, Budd taking five wickets for 73 runs. At stumps Union had lost three wickets for 107 rtms, Rawstorn contributing 41, O’Connor 25,.and P. McKone 24. Oamaru B made 182 against Albion, Davies scoring 79, including nine fours, and a six. Henderson contributed 32, J. Hall 31, Halvorsen 12, and Campbell 10. Geddes took seven wickets for 75, and Taylor, three for 52. Albion lost six wickets for 194 runs. Taylor and G. Sutherland were the not out batsmen with 66 runs and IS respectively. Other scores were: Frith 27, Geddes 22, S. Sutherland 17, J. McKone 14, O’Connell 14, and extras 17. SHIPPING ACTIVITIES PORT OF OAMARU High Water.—December 15; 12.23 a.m. -and 0.30 p,.m. Coastal Movements

The Wainui is due to-morrow to load for Wellington, Napier and Gisborne, via Timaru and Lyttelton. The Waipiata is expected early in January to load for Wellington and Auckland, via Timaru and • Lyttelton. The Waipahi is due on Friday, December 19, to load for Wellington, Nelson and New Plymouth, via ports. LAWN TENNIS WAIMATE BEATS MEADOWBANK In a keenly contested match In the North Otago Lawn Tennis Association’s competition, ' Wa 1 * -te beat Meadowbank by 13 matches (' ames), to 11 matches (144 games). sley accounted for Oamaru by 14 m_cJiea (171 games) to 10 sets (160 games) and Awamoa defeated Pukeuri by 15 matches (140 games) to 1 match (66 games). , DOMINICAN COLLEGE The prize-list of the Dominican College, Teschemakersi is as follows: Christian Doctrine (gold medal presented by Bishop Whyte): Roma Tollill. Dux medal: Dorothy Baker. Clark’s Embroidery Shield: Dorothy McKay. Guzman Interform Eistedfodd Shield: Forms I and 11. Ex-pupils’ essay prize: Roma Tohill. Best ail-roupd girl; Dorothy Baker. ‘‘Optima” students’ awards: VI, D. Baker; Va, R. Tohill: Natalie Grace; Vb, Joan Higgins; IV, Moira Caddie; 111, Colleen Campbell. Kathleen Dlneen, Nanette McLauchlan; 11, Cecil Fahey, Lesley Fahey; wreath for amiability, (by votes of pupils), Patricia McDonnell. Secondary Division. —VI: D. Baker (honours —English, French, Latin, history, arts and crafts', harmony, needlework: merit—Greek, dressmaking), D. McKay (honours —pianoforte, Latin, harmony, painting; merit—Christian doctrine, English, history, dressmaking). Va; N. Grace (honours English; merit Christian doctrine, history, elocution), "M, Bretherton (honours—typewriting, dressmaking; merit—Christian doctrine, English), R. Tohill (honours Christian doctrine, English. French, history: merit—Latin, mathematics). Vb: J. Higgins (honours — elocution; merit —Christian doctrine, English, French, science, pianoforte. harmony), D. Boland (honours— English; merit— Christian doctrine, French, Latin, algebra, needlework). - M. Fraher (merit—Christian doctrine, English, Latin, pianoforte, harmony, arithmetic). Z, Hart (honours—harmony, needlework; merit—Christian doctrine, English, French, elocution), M. McKinnon (merit English, French, science, Latin, elocution, arithmetic), M. Caddie (honours English, science. French, Latin; merit—sewing, arithmetic). V. Wilson (merit—sewing, French, English) K. Dineeh (honours Christian doctrine, science, Latin: merit—English, French, arithmetic, algebra, sewing), A. Scott (merit science, Latin, sewing, arithmetic). N. McLauchlan (merit—English, arithmetic. Latin. French, sewing, elocution), H. Payne (merit—English, pianoforte). Q. Hassell (honours—arts.,and , crafts;, merit—ChrisUerL.rioctrine). V:, PGreaney (honours—Christian doctrine, harmony; merit—English, Latin), C. Campbell (honcurs—Christian doctrine, Latin, English. French, harmony, mathematics; mer it—sewing, pianoforte), G, Phillips (honours—Christian doctrine, pianoforte; merit—English, harmony, Latin, science). H. Holloway (merit—Christian doctrine, science, Latin, . sewing, elocution), H. Mead (merit Christian doctrine, science, sewing, shorthand),, R. Jenkins (honours—Latin; merit—science, shorthand, harmony, elocution, English). Higher leaving certificates: D. Baker, D. McKay,'

ITEMS OF INTEREST Christmas Appeal.—An appeal is being made for contributions towards providing the inmates of Victoria Home and patients at the Oamaru Public Hospital with some extra fare at Christmas and New Year. Coptributions may be left with the matrons at the home or hospital or at the board office. ' Children’s Welfare Association.—As a result of a successful street appeal on Fridaythe very satisfactory sum of £Bl 5s- was collected for the North Otago Children’s Welfare Association. Ardgowan Soldiers.—Mr W. Sparks presided at a complimentary social given by the Ardgowan Patriotic Committee last week in honour of Trooper W. Frame and Private W. B. Lewthwaite. Presentations were made to the guests by Mr J. Gordon. . AMUSEMENTS Majestic Theatre.—The English musical comedy, “ Under Your Hat,” featuring Jack Hulbeft and Cicely Courtneidge, will be shown finally td-night . Opera House.—The double bill to be shown to-night is headed by “ Pier 13,” a story of New York, and “ The Old Swimming Hole." SCOUTS’ LEAVE CANCELLED At the request of the Government. District Commissioner G. A. McGregor advises that all leave for Scouts has been cancelled for the Christmas and New Year period, and Scouts are to stand by in' case of a national emergency. BOWLING Sixteen pairs took part in the R.S.A. bowling tournament at Phoenix on Saturday, those qualifying in the sectional play being E. H. Taylor, W. Denholm, J. Jamieson, T. Crisp, D. S. Ferguson, J. T. Adams,- H. C. Jeffery, W. Campbell, D. R. Corson, L. J. K. Familton. each securing 2 wins and 1 loss. In the final D. Gunion and J. T. Adams beat Jack Reid and E. H, Taylor 5—3. The Diggers’ Mug, given by Mr Neil H., Colquhoun, was presented to the winning skip by Mr H. C. Lightwood, president of the Oamaru Returned Soldiers’ Association. PERSONAL Captain Grey Panckhurst, son of Mrs Panckhurst, Ure street, Oamaru, and the late Mr William Panckhurst, is reported to have been wounded in Libya. He was educated at the Waitaki Boys’ High School, and after leaving school took up a commercial position in the North Island.