ATHOL NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 16785, 13 July 1911, Page 3

ATHOL NOTES

(From Our Own Correspondent.) From the flats and the lowlands the snow has again receded to higher elevations, where shivering blasts whistle and only native shrubs and grasses grow. The ground being soft and the roads muddy it will, I understand, be an ideal time for our annual “hunt club's” meeting which takes in the adjoining picturesque Parawa on the 22nd of tills month. In bygone days in Scotland chasing the wild mountain deer was a favourite sport; in England and Ireland fox hunting; in Australia chasing the "old man kangaroo,” yet, I doubt, if these pastimes over excelled the fascinating and charming sport of mounting the best bred hunters of the district, and charging, like “the noble six hundred,” a greased rag drawn up and down the Parawa road, or across and along the adjacent fences. The greased rag Is followed by a batch of well haired dogs that keep a foremost place in this healthy and exhilarating exercise. The prices ruling for properties that recently changed hands are higher than formerly. Dir Studholme received a good round figure for tlie homestead part of Glenquoidi. Dir Diack, of Eyre Creek, has sold out to advantage and retires to Gore. Mr E. Crow, formerly of Parawa, realised a satisfactory price for his Caroline farm. Fife’s solemn side has once again been placed before us, when the sociable, the genial and affable Dir Alf. Challis, whilst seemingly in the best of health and in the best of spirits, was, with the most startling suddenness, met with his marching orders. Whatever his troubles

and trials may have been, the most urbane manners and cheery disposition characterised this gentleman, until ho left to join the charitable and the worthy, by a prompt and peaceful translation. No caprice of temperament ever repelled from him the friends his cheerfulness and sincerity attracted. Born near London at the close of the Crimean War in 1855, he was the fifth son of a respected Essex gentleman. Joining the St. Mary’s Choir in the English Church in Walthamstow, he acquired a good and sound musical education, which was helpful to him in after years at concerts, entertainments and assemblies. 1< or about seven years he was employed in the then Fraser’s nursery, but left in the good ship Chile in 1873 for New Zealand, landing at Nelson after much buffeting along the coast. Journeying south he was employed at Birchwood, Mararoa, and Burwood and subsequently at Invercargill. Here he met and married a bonnie lass from Terang, Victoria, who had travelled much as governess to a wealthy family. Mr Challis was employed in the brick-building part of the Albion Hotel. Shortly afterwards he conducted the Parawa Hotel as lessee for four years. Latterly he tried his luck at goldmining. At the time of his decease Mr Challis was employed by the County Council and had just received notice of his promotion to foreman a few weeks ago. Residing “along the banks of the old Mataura,” he was when off duty erecting an adjacent building for his kind friend, Mr Dobbie, and was engaged on Sunday afternoon showing his son over it. He stooped down to remove an empty bag from off the hearth when he tumbled over —dead. The night before, when reading of some sudden deaths, he remarked that he would prefer to die that way. In less than twenty-four hours his wish was granted. Perhaps he had a presentiment of it. His brother (Percy) conducts a hotel in the North Island. His brother George, of Avenal, predeceased him by three years. One sister, Mrs Turner, resides at Seaward Bush, near Invercargill. Mr Challis leaves six sons, one married; and two daughters, one, Mrs T. Kitto, having died a few years ago in Dunedin. A large concourse of sorrowing friends, with the last rites solemnly performed by the Rev. Mr Uphill laid him to rest from the troubles and toils of this precarious life.