WAIMATE OLD RESIDENT

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIX, Issue 21971, 24 May 1941, Page 3

WAIMATE OLD RESIDENT

Death Of Mr W. Nicholas Arrived In 1887 The death occurred in Waimate yesterday of Mr William Nicholas, at the age of 91. Even though Mr Nicholas took no prominent part in public life, he was well and favourably known throughout the Waimate district. He was bom at St. Leonards-on-Sea, England, in January, 1850, and arrived in Australia with his father, Mr G. E. Nicholas, a veterinary surgeon. The Nicholas family settled 20 miles from Geelong, and amongst the fund of reminescences Mr Nicholas could teil of those days was a visit from Marsden, one of the Australian bushrangers. When Mr Nicholas came to Christchurch in 1863, there was a swamp where the Cathedral now stands. Ashburton had two hotels and a blacksmith shop, and Waimate, when he arrived 54 years ago, was trying to recover from the bush fire of 1878. He started his career in Waimate by purchasing a cottage and some land for £2O. His experiences in South Canterbury Included shearing on Sherwood Downs Station (then owned by Rain Brothers) as well as Clayton, Rollesby and Albury stations. Before coming to Waimate he owned a farm at Hinds. Mr Nicholas married Miss Ann Mary Edson of Mount Somers. She died some years ago. He had nine of a family and eight survive—Messrs F. Nicholas (Wanganui), E. E. Nicholas (Waimate), G. H. Nicholas (King Country), V. Nicholas (Ellesmere), L. G. Nicholas (Hook); Mrs G. Herron (Oamaru), Mrs D. Coates (Dunedin) and Miss 1.1. Nicholas (Waimate). EMERGENCY MEASURES EX-MAYOR’S REVIEW A review of the Emergency Precautions Scheme in Waimate is given by Mr G. Dash in a report as retiring chairman of the committee. In September, 1939, there were requests for a scheme and committees were set up. Some of the committees had held one meeting and others had held two. As there appeared to be no real demand for a scheme, the Borough and County Councils decided that, pending a nearer approach to a probable emergency, money would not be expended on elaborate preparations. From then onwards the committees that functioned were those for entertainment and publicity and the Fire Brigade, which made plans for wider activities. "From September, 1939, no other activity was evident, and committees died to such an extent that the general secretary returned funds to donors,” the report states. "When war was declared and possibilities loomed more threateningly, it became necessary to realise that the organising of the Home Guard as an auxiliary to the Emergency Precautions Scheme made it imperative that other matters should be considered. The Home Guard having secured the services of almost all the chairmen of committees and many of the members, the chairman of the Home Guard Committee handled the business and ultimately that committee took up the burden of the Emergency Precautions Scheme's general committee. "Much work has been entailed through changes of programme by the Government as experience evolved new methods, but to-day there are some 30 special police carded, between 20 and 30 medical ambulance details, 18 members of communications unit, nearly 50 road and facility maintenance men, 20 fire prevention men, and more than 20 black-out wardens, besides other enrolled men in services needed, making a grand total in the vicinity of 200 men in the Emergency Precaution Scheme. Much remains to be done as new demands reach us from time to time, but in every contingency we have found willing helpers.” Mr Dash is retiring from the position of lighting control officer in waimate in favour of the new Mayor (Mr W. F. Boland). At a recent meeting, the Waimate Rugby Sub-Union decided to send a letter to Mr Dash expressing its appreciation of what he had done for Rugby in Waimate. A committee has been formed to organise a function in recognition of the services of Mr and Mrs Dash have given Waimate. PERSONAL Mrs W. A. Peck, Belt Street, Waimate, is visiting Ashburton. Miss Cague, Ashburton, who has been visiting Waimate, has returned home. Advice has been received by his parents at Hook, that Sergeant J. Johnston, is safe. Miss P. Whatman, Waimate, is ”isiting Dunedin.

The Savoy toilet salon is now open in Queen Street, Waimate.