OBITUARY

Southland Times, Issue 22345, 9 June 1934, Page 9

OBITUARY

MR FRANCIS J. LEWIS. The death occurred at Invercargill on Thursday of Mr Francis J. Lewis, an accountant well-known in business circles in the city for a long period of years. Born in Bendigo, Victoria, in October, 1868, Mr Lewis was educated at the High School and at St. Andrew’s College, Bendigo. He started his career in the drapery business conducted by his father, Mr John Lewis, and held a responsible position in a branch of the shop at Kerang. After his father’s death Mr Lewis joined the staff of a Melbourne bank. He left the bank to come to Invercargill to join the office staff of his uncle’s business, the wellknown firm of Lewis’s Ltd. A champion swimmer and a keen cricketer in his younger days, Mr Lewis was interested in most forms of sport, being also a follower of racing. Though of a retiring disposition, he was well liked by all with whom he came in contact through his sympathetic personality and attractive nature. MR WILLIAM VORRATH. After being laid aside for less than a week Mr William Vorrath, who was a popular figure in football and cricket circles, passed away in the Dunedin Hospital on Thursday. Mr Vorrath was a very successful exponent of both Rugby League football and cricket, states the Evening Star. As a lad he distinguished himself on the Rugby field, and was doing well with . the Union Football Club when he decided to join the ranks of the League code during the second year of its existence in Dunedin. He immediately proved himself to be particularly fitted for the game, and represented Otago for two seasons before gaining a place in the South Island team, and participating in all the trials for the selection of the New Zealand team which toured England. He narrowly missed the trip. In cricket his energies were confined to the Albion Club, in which he was captain of the senior eleven for four seasons, and “skipper” when the club secured ‘the senior shield for the 192930 season. In the 1927-28 season he represented Otago in all its matches, and scored a memorable 103 not out against Wellington at Dunedin, a fighting eighth-wicket partnership with George Dickinson. He played against the visiting Australian team in the same season, and had scored 13 not out when the game was abandoned on account of rain. It was after this season that he was overtaken by an illness which ended his football career, and also affected his cricket. Nevertheless, his performances with the bat during the time he worked at the Waitaki Hydro Works were such that he was included in the North Otago team two seasons ago. Mr Vorrath was a member of a family which has distinguished itself in various branches of sport. His father, who received a sound schooling in cricket in Australia, was a prominent player for the club in his young days, and has been a prominent official for many years. His elder brother, Mr H. Vorrath, was a jockey for seven years, when he met with an accident over the hurdles which prevented his riding again; while his younger brother, Mr F. Vorrath, represented Otago at Rugby football in 1929 and 1933, and North Otago in 1931. His sister, Miss Alma Vorrath, is a prominent player and official of the North-east Valley Tennis Club.