ABOUT PEOPLE

Southland Times, Issue 19290, 8 July 1924, Page 4

ABOUT PEOPLE

At yesterday’s sitting of the Magistrate’s Court at Riverton, Mr W. Hopcroft was sworn in as a Justice of the Peace. Mr Frank • Rolleston, M.P., for Timaru, who has been in poor health lately, is at present in the Hobson street Private Hospital, Wellington. Mr Charles Wilson was welcomed back by the members of the Council of the Southland Acclimatisation Society at its meeting last evening, after his recent severe illness. Messrs A. L. McCulloch and J. J. Moore leave for Timaru this morning to attend a conference with the object of forming • South Island Federation of School Com mittees’ Association. Mr Peter Hansen, a Danish dairying expert, has been appointed by the Waitaki Dairy Co., Ltd., as their country representative, and will give lectures throughout Southland in the near future, on "How to Manage a Dairy Farm.” The vacancy on the Bluff Harboui Board as a representative of the Government, caused by the resignation of Mr E. A. Nichol, has been filled by the appointment of Mr J. R. Hamilton, of Winton. Mr Hamilton took his seat at the special meeting of the Board held yesterday and was formally welcomed by the Chairman (Mr Andrew Bain) and the members, all of whom testified to the fact that Mr Hamilton’s experience of local body work and his abilities would be very valuable to the Board. Mr D. Lamb, one of the best-known and oldest settlers of Waikaka passed away last Friday morning at his son’s residence at Wendon Valley. Mr Lamb came to the district in the early gold mining days and for many years kept the Waikaka Hotel. He was storekeeper, butcher and agent by turns and during his long residence there he earned the good will and respect of all who knew him. The late Mr Lamb, in the early years, took an active part in public affairs and was for many years associated with the old Knapdale Road Board as Chairman and private member. Every movement having for its object the good of the district and Waikaka especially received his hearty support and strenuous advocacy, whether it was the opening up of new land for closer settlement, the construction of the Gore to Kelso railway, the building of public schools or churches in the district, these and many other movements having the welfare of the district and the people behind them, found always a strong and energetic advocate in the deceased. Being of superb physique and of commanding presence the late Mr Lamb was a familiar figure at any public gathering and was widely known throughout Otago and Southland in the early days. His wife predeceased him some years ago, also three of his family—three are living still, two sons and one daughter. He was also a Justice of the Peace for many years. The Christchurch correspondent of the Southland Times wires that the death occurred yesterday of Mr Thomas Alexander Blackley, a well-known figure in the public life of the Rakaia district. As a young man he was head sheep and cattle man for the New Zealand and Australian Land Company at Edendale, Southland, when Donald McDonald was manager, and the cadet at the Edendale railway station at this time was Mr R. W. MeV illy, now General Manager of the New Zealand Railways. W’hen the Edendale estate was cut up and sold, Mr Blackley removed to Rakaia to buy a share in the Acton Estate, eventually becoming sole owner of it. Hie late Mr Blackley gave extensive service on public bodies. For several years he had been a member of the Lyttelton Harbour Board, and at the time of his death he was Deputy-Chairman of that body. He was also a member of the Ashburton County Council, Lincoln College Board of Governors, Rakaia Road Board, Ashburton A. and P. Association, Ashburton Trottinf Club, Ashburton Racing Club, Rakais Bowling Club, Rakaia Ploughing Match Association, Selwyn Licensing Committee and Rakaia Domain Board, and served also as a member of the Soldier Settlement Land Purchase Board. In his younger days Mr Blackley was a keen fisherman and shot, and he was noted for his success with light tackle in the Southland streams He took a keen interest in racing and trotting, and was a prominent player for the Rakaia Bowling Club, of which he was a past President. Deceased married Mjks Mary Muir, of Southland, and is survived by his widow, two daughters (Mrs Henry, of Methven. and Mrs E. Duncan of Tepirital and a son, James Blackley, of Rakaia.