MATAURA NEWS

Southland Times, Issue 22293, 7 April 1934, Page 20

MATAURA NEWS

DRAUGHTS TOURNAMENT. (From Our Correspondent.) Thursday saw the finals of the New Zealand Draughts tournament, that has been conducted in the Stewart Hall since Good Friday, played. The final tallies of aggregate points of the tourney are as follows:—G. A. Brown 21J, J. A. Lucas 21, Robert Weir 18, W. O’Malley 17 J, R. Botting 16, James Bruce 14, F. Hutchins 13, J. Shadbolt 11, D. J. Wilson 10J-, A. Findlay 10, T. Trapski 9J, G. Duncan 91, W. H. Nicholson 71, G. Beaumont 21. In the handicap tourney the results were as follows (the handicaps being given in parentheses): J. Bruce (7Apts) £8 1 W. O’Malley (21pts) £6 2 J. Shadbolt (Slpts) £5 3 A. Findlay (SJpts) £4 4 R. Botting (llpts) £3 5 G. Duncan (Bpts) £2 6 In the Stewart Hall in the afternoon there was a happy gathering when his Worship the Mayor (Mr C. D. McConnell), at the request of the committee, presented the prizes won during the tourney. He offered hearty congratulations to the winners and trusted that their stay in the town had been pleasant.

Several of the recipients made appropriate responses, all expressing appreciation of the courtesies that had been extended to them by tfie citizens. Referring to the tourney, all were agreed it was one of the best organized it had been their privilege to attend and they conveyed congratulations to the Mataura executive for the work it had done.

In the evening the final function took place, the Stewart Hall again accommodating a large crowd to witness Mr G. A. Brown (New Zealand champion) play 12 simultaneous games with local players. At the conclusion cheers were accorded the champion for the entertainment provided. Subsequently those present were entertained at supper by the local executive. The local committee desires to acknowledge with thanks the receipt of the following further donations to the prize fund: Previously acknowledged. £6B 18/-; per Mr G. S. Templeton (Glenham) —D. McKenzie 2/6, J. Scott 2/6, G. Templeton 2/6, R. Scott 2/6, A. Scott 2/6. J. Smythe 2/6, E. Marnell 5/-, “A Friend” 2/6, T. Hunter 2/6, W. Robinson 2/6; total, £1 7/-. Per J. R. Clark (Christchurch) —5/-. Per A. H. Tompkins (Hamilton) —£5 14/-. Per J. Ingram (Mataura) —R. Reid 2/6, John Townley 2/-, “X.Y.” 2/6, C. E. Rowe 5/-. Per J. H. Clark (Mataura) —Smith and Dolamore 5/-, O. J. Howells 2/6, C. Templeton 2/6, D. M. Lockhart 2/6, U.T. Co. 2/6, Frank Hamill 5/-, D. Baxter 2/6, J. Baxter 2/6, J.H.C. 10/6; total, £1 15/6. Per J. A. Graham (Mataura Island) —£1 12/-; grand total, £BO 3/6. Women’s Division. The monthly meeting of the Mataura branch of the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union held in the Coronation Hall on Thursday afternoon was well attended, the president, Mrs C. E. Howorth, occupying the chair. After the transaction of business the box was opened, the subject being “Household interior decorations.” The various aspects were keenly observed by those attending. Presbyterian Men’s Club. The first meeting of this year’s sessions of the Mataura Presbyterian Men’s Club was held on Wednesday evening when there was a fair attendance. Mr A. N. Mac Gibbon, who occupied the chair, cordially welcomed those present and expressed his pleasure at the attendance. He recalled the pleasure the meetings last year had given and he believed the forthcoming session would provide equal enjoyment. The committee had been extremely fortunate for its first meeting to secure as speaker Mr Theobold who was at present visiting New Zealand after many years’ works among youth in London.

The Rev. D. McNeur said the meetings last year had been most enjoyable and helpful to himself as minister. It was a remarkable thing, but one which struck him very forcibly, that all the lectures given had had a missionary note in them. He believed by these gatherings their mental and social virtues would be intensified and the wider work of the church helped. He, too, extended a welcome to Mr Theobold.

After several community songs and vocal numbers by members the lecturer of the evening was introduced and was cordially received. Mr Theobold stated that he was grateful for the invitation to address such a gathering and chose as his subject “Some experiences of travels and my impressions.” In an interesting manner he described modes of living in many of the parts visited and made special mention of many buildings whose architectural beauty was worthj' of note. Special mention was made of the submarine garden off Port Sudan which was able to be observed by means of specially prepared floorings on native boats. The Island of Ceylon was of interest to the tourist and the modes of life in the villages, the wonderful growths of pineapples, coffee, pepper, bananas with rice-fields at various stages and tea plantations on the heights were continual sources of interest. After a brief survey of Australian ports visited the lecturer gave his impressions of the Dominion. Southlanders, he said, had something of which they might well feel proud. The grandeur of _ the scenery greatly impressed the visitor, the changing variety of beauty being unsurpassed. For the people themselves he had to acknowledge their great affection for the Homeland. It was a source of admiration io note how people here referred to England as “home.” Their great friendliness, too, gave a greater sense of brotherhood and he trusted that the people would always retain this. He imagined that there might be a tendency to lose this friendliness when they become bigger commercially and otherwise, hut he urged all to work assiduously to retain it. At the conclusion of his lecture Mr Theobold was accorded a hearty vote of thanks. Band of Hope. The annual meeting of the Mataura Band of Hope was held in the Oddfellows Hall •on Wednesday evening when there was a large attendance. The Rev. D. McNeur presided. The meeting night was fixed for the first Saturday in each month. Officers were elected as follows:— President, the Rev. D. McNeur (reelected); vice-presidents, Miss M. A. Whiteley, Messrs G. Osborne and T. Richmond; secretary, Mrs I. Maslin; treasurer, Mr L. E. Currie; pianists, Misses M. C. Dickie and M. A. Whiteley; general committee, Mr and Mrs J. McEwing, Captain Packer and Lieutenant Lomas, Misses D. Coombes and M. McDonald and Messrs G. McLean and W. Folster. Subsequently a programme of instrumental, vocal and elocutionary items was given by the children. Obituary. There passed away at his residence, Kana street, Mataura, on Sunday morning last a very old and highly respected resident of some 55 years’ standing, Mr John Roy Richmond, at the age of 76. Born in Perthshire, Scotland, he early in life decided to migrate to these lands and arrived at Port Chalmers. Proceeding for a short time to Central Otago, he afterwards secured employment at Mosgiel, but it was of short duration and he subsequently decided to try his fortune in Southland, and for many years was resident in the Ferndale district, where many of his family were educated. Advancing years caused him to relinquish farming pursuits and

he removed to Mataura, where he resided until his death. He was a wellknown figure locally and was highly respected as a citizen. Some 16 months ago he celebrated his golden wedding. Latterly he had been somewhat confined to his residence. A widow and a family of seven sons and four daughters are left. The funeral, which took place to the Mataura cemetery on Tuesday afternoon, was very largely attended, the services at the house and graveside being conducted by the Rev. D. McNeur. The death has occurred at her residence, Denbigh street, Mataura, cf Mrs Catherine McErlean, widow of the late Mi- Patrick McErlean, at the age of 85. Throughout a lifetime her sympathetic and kindly disposition, which found expression in charitable acts towards those in need or distress, earned her the regard of all sections of the community. Mrs McErlean, who had resided at Mataura for over 50 years, was a native of County Derry, Ireland, and was one of a family of six. She received her education at the national schools and at a comparatively early age accompanied her brother, Mr. James Henery, to the Dominion, the pair taking passage in the ship James Nichol Fleming, which arrived at Port Chalmers on October 4, 1877. Proceeding to Dunedin, Mrs McErlean took employment with the late Dr Livingstone at Roslyn, remaining with him for three years, when she married Mr Patrick McErlean, and journeyed with him to Mataura, Her husband at the time conducted a bootmaking business on the site of the present store attached to the shop of Messrs John Mac Gibbon and Sons, Bridge Square. Subsequently they removed to new premises which had been erected in Dover street. The death of Mr McErlean occurred 51 years ago, the late Mrs McErlean being left with the responsibility of bringing up two children, one of which was bom a week after her husband’s death. At all times industrious and enterprising, she proved herself a devoted mother whose chief interests lay in the rearing of her family, and in giving service to her church and to all who were in sickness and in need. An ardent worker in the cause of the Catholic Church at Mataura, she earned the esteem of missioners and clergy who enjoyed her hospitality on the occasions of monthly visits to xhe town to conduct services. It is on record that she was the . last surviving member of the committee which undertook the furnishing of the local church after the building had been completed. Her brother, Mr James Henery, Waimumu road, enjoys the distinction of being the last member of the original building committee. Mrs McErlean is survived by two sons, James and John Patrick (Mataura), and a brother and sister, James Henery (Waimumu road, Mataura) and Mrs J. Tohill (Wellington). The funeral took place on Thursday, the large cortege bearing testimony to the esteem in which she was held. The services at the Roman Catholic Church, the residence and the graveside were conducted by the Rev. Father Harrington, of Gore.