OBITUARY

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 106, 7 May 1934, Page 11

OBITUARY

MR. W. P. MCGfRR

Tho death occurred at his' residence in Seatoun yesterday of Mr. W. P. McGirr, well known in. Now Zealand for ovor half a century as a true type of sportsman. Mr. McGirr, who was one of Wellington's outstanding and ■best-known 'cricketers in the eighties, was tho father of Messrs. IT. M. McG-iri-, the well-known Wellington and ISTew Zealand representative cricketer, and L. W. McGirr, the tennis player and jSTew Zealand Association football representative.

Tho late Mr. McGirr was born in 3 S5S> ? and came to uSTew Zealand with his parents when ten years of age. He was a compositor by trade, and 'for several'.years'worked on the "Clutha Leader," which was founded by his father. He joined the stafl of tho Government' Printing ■ Office in Wellington about 1875, remaining there until' he Tetired in 1915 after 40 years of service.

It was as a cricketer that Mr. McGirr was more widely known in Ms young days. He represented Wellington for several years, and had many fine performances to his credit. After a term with the old Star Club he joined Midland. Bowling was his .strong point, the-pace of .his deliveries, being similar to that of his son, Mr. H. M. McGirr. As a batsman and fieldsman, too, he was an-'asset'tp' any ■.team. One of his most- outstanding performances "was registered when he played for Wellington against the Australian team in 1886.' In. the first innings Australia scored 475, Jones and Palmer being responsible for* 202 inns. Mr. McGirr sent down 248 balls, off which only 58 runs were scored, and he captured the wickets of Jones and Palmer. Among his best bowling performances for Wellington-. were four-wickets for 17 I against Hawke's Bay in 1886, ana five for 30 and one for 23 against Nelson lin the same year. In 1889 he captured two wickets for 21 runs and four for 37 against Canterbury. In later life Mr. SleCKrr' took a great interest' in bowling, being one of the foundation members of the Seatoun Bowling Club, -which' was opened shortly- before the war. The, first year he won the singles championship of the club, the trophy being the Crawford Cup. Prior to the opening of tho Seatoun Club he was a member of the Victoria Club.: , ,

In 1927"Mr. MeGirr was very proud of tho fact thai-two of Ms sons had the: distinction.- of representing New Zealand on the iield of sport at the same time. H. M. McGirr was playing in England with the Now Zealand cricket team/ and Xi. W. MeGirr was representing tho Dominion in the Association football match against tho Canadians in New Zealand.

Mr. MeGiir-was a man of retiring disposition so far as public life was concerned. He was a life member of the "Wellington Working Men's, Club and ivas secretary of the *WelHngton Typographical Union. ■:■ . ■ He is survived by Ms ' widow and three sons, Messrs. D. G-., H. M., and L. W. McGirr' ' ;

The funeral will take place tomorrow morning.

As a mark of respect to the memory of tho ]ate Mr. Alfred Sadler, whose sous are well known as Rngby footballers, the Wellington College Old Boys' pinyers on Saturday wore white arm bands, • .