OBITUARY

Hokitika Guardian, 25 September 1922, Page 4

OBITUARY

MR WALTER- TRYING. REE ETON, Sept. 25. Mr Walter Irving, the oldest resident, died on Saturday night, aged 79. Ue arrived fit Reefton in 1866 and several times was County Chairman, and had been a member of the Council since its inception. He bad also been connected with sporting affairs and was Secretary of the Reefton Racing Club for many years.

Mr Walter Irving was born in July, 1813. at Little Corby, near Carlisle, Cumberland, England, whore be was educated, anil learned the drapery trade. Tn 1862, Mr Irving'went to British Columbia for a year, sailed for New Zealand in the following year, and arrived in Dunedin in January, 1864. He went to Hokitika in the year 1865, and was for several years in the Grey district, where he worked out mining claims at Darkie’s Terrace. When .Mr Irving first visited Reefton, in April, 1866, the country was covered with dense bush, and there were no roads. There was a little alluvial mining in the district, and Mr Irving worked out two or three claims. He then removed to Brighton and afterwards bad mining experience in various parts of the West Coast. He returned to Reefton in the year 1873. and lias since been connected with mining work. Mr Irving lifts acted as legal manager for mining companies for a long time. Tie has served ns a Justice of the Peace for many years, and has been a member of the Hospital Trustees and Charitable Aid Board. Since the year 1885, Mr Trving lias been secretary of the Reefton Lodge of Oddfellows, and is secretary of the Reefton Jockey Club, of which be lias also been a steward, and member of the committee. Mr Irving married a daughter of tho Into Mr John McCnfferty, of Victoria, in 1874, and lias six sons and one daughter. Mr “Do ss” Irving of tho Post and 1 Telegraph Department at Hokitika and Mr Robert Trving, of the Railway Department at Hokitika, are sons »f deceased.