Century Hunter

NZ Truth, Issue 1208, 24 January 1929, Page 6

Century Hunter

WHILST Australian and English willow-wielders are concentrating grimly on their centuries, a New Zealander is aiming for the hundred mark m a very different field. ■' * Joe Ely the— or to call him what all Ohakune calls him, just "Joey"-r-has climbed Mount Ruapehu 93 times .and has every intention of running into three figures before he gives the mountain a rest. ■ The snow-clad peak looks dptvri on the Ohakune School of which : Joe is headmaster. In between spells of mountain-climbing and instilling large facts into small heads, Joe finds time to make himself a very popular man m the little world of Ohakune. He has touched wider fields and round about '05 was one of the best' footballers m New Zealand; He had a chance of "going to England with the All Blacks, but preferred to get married.' , That hasn't spoiled his old-time love of the game, and he is still sole selector for the Ruapehu Union, following the big ball (m gaiters) through every brand of Ohakune weather. Ho has a twinkling Scottish wit matched with black eyes that twinkle at an equal "rate -of speed, can talk books, men, dogs and leave m Paris by the hour and is. altogether a bright spot m Ohakune life.