ANOTHER FIGHTING MEDICO

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 8 July 1915, Page 2

ANOTHER FIGHTING MEDICO

KAWAKAWA'S CONTRIBUTION

THE war had barely started a couple of months when Dr Eccles of Kawakawa, was .the first to get upon his hind legs in public meeting assembled, and denounce the " slackers " in language both forceful and explicit, stating that those men of health and strength, and without ties of any description, who were hanging back " ought to be damned well ashamed of themselves," etc. His speech was published in the ECHO at the time, no doubt many of our, readers will remember, and, knowing Dr Eccles personally as we do, we also stated that in our opinion he would be off to the front at once if his good lady were only to say -go." Both Dr Eccles and his wife were "on the field of battle in South Africa, and, therefore, have had experience. After the Boer war they settled down in Kawakawa, having previously resided in Mangonui for a couple of years, and acquired some landed property about a mile out, where they made a comfortable home and vastly improved the estate. Lieut.-Col. Eccles, who took much interest in/local politics and -the welfare of the place, was for a number of years a member of the Bay of Island County Council and a prime-mover in the establishment of the Kawakawa Hospital, and now he is " off to the war " after months of restlessness. The hrppy couple have no encumbrances, and have leased their property at Kawakawa, from which place they took their departure on Tuesday, en route for England ; from there Lieut. Col, Eccles proceeds to the front, where, we feel assured, he will do good service for his King and country, and may he return to his old, home full of health and energy to enjoy the sweets of life, if it is possible for a medical man of his vigorous disposition to do so.