OBITUARY.

Shannon News, 19 April 1927, Page 3

OBITUARY.

MB REWI MOYNIHAN. It was with expressions of sorrow that the news of the death of Mr Rewi Moynihan was received in Shannon on Thursday evening. Although deceased • had been ailing for the past two months, it was not until about a fortnight ago that his illness was known to be seri"ous, when it was found necessary for him to enter the hospital, but despite all medical attention could do, he passed away as stated above. He was a fine specimen of young manhood and a prominent figure in the Rugby world of the Wellington province, particular!" within the boundaries of the Horownenua and Manawatu Eugby Unions. Born in Wellington, thirty-two years ago. he came to Shannon with his parents, the late Mr and Mrs M. Moynihan, when six months old. He was educated at the Shannon School snd afterwards at the Palmerston Nort: 1 High School, where he commenced his. football career. On leaving school he took up farming, but wh. n war was declared he /enlisted and left with the Main Body in 1914 as a member of the Wellington and West Coast Infantry. He took part in the landing at Galhpoli. / He was twice wounded, on the I secend occasion being invalided home in October, 1915, being the first wound ed inan to return to this'district. On jecovering sufficiently he took" over the management of the farm to enable 1m brothers, Messrs W. and T. Moynihan, to go to the front. On their return he went into the hotel business with, his brother Tom, who took over the Club Hotel' from their father, which the latter had conducted .successfully for so many years. In the sporting activities" of .Shannon,-the .deceastd h:-cl ever been a prominent figure. As a junior footballer he :epresented Hoivwhrnua, and the first season he played as a senior he was selected to repre sent the Union. Since then he has always represented Horovnenua and h< - Lad the honour of gaining inclusion i the North Island trials in the 192 i season when the Dominion was mustering its forces! in preparation for a world tourf. He represented Mana-watu-Horowhenua ag. imt the Springboks in 1921, also represented Welling-ton-Manawatu-llorowhenua against the All Blacks' prior to their leaving foi England in 1924, while he played in. numerous games, for the Manawhenu.i fifteeri,- and. was captain'of the Whitev when they defeated the Maoris for tin ■De-war, Cup at Levin last 'season. Hi football career was a long and honour able one and his untimely 'death' whiL in the prime of life comes as a distinc shock to, his large circle of friends whose sympathy will be extended t< his sorrowing wife and little son an<: daughter and his brothers, Messrs Wil lie and Tom Moynihan. The funeral took place at the Shan. non Cemetery on Sunday afternoon and the high esteem -and raspect i: which deceased was held, was evidence-. by the; very large assemblage gathered many having come a long distance t. pay their last respects to "one who wil always be remembered as a good spor ana friend. Father McDennott, o: Foxton, conducted the service at th' Roman Catholic Church, after whicl the cortege proceeded to the cemetery the casket baing draped with two Maor. mats, this being a special honour b) the Maoris to show the high regard ii which deceased was held by the Maor lace. At the graveside, the last sac rites were performed by Father Mc Dermptt, and prior to the body bein* laid to rest Mr H. McDonald, in :,. ; short address, after referring to deceas ed's good qualities as a sportsman, ir. troduced Mr Martin Winiata, who, oj behalf of the Maoris of the Horowhe nua district, conveyed to the wife ane relatives of .the deceased their heart felt-sympathy, during which he statec the Maori had always looked upon the deceased as the totara tree of Sha.<

•The pall bearers were personal friend: of deceased and representatives of th( Maori race, they being Messrs T. Ko hika, E. Spring, H. Bartholomew, 0 Johansen, L. Dalzell, R. Hayes, J Hennessy, J. Pirovano, H. Jacob, Jas Murray, T. Doherty, and S. Mitchell The cortege was the largest ever se-ji in Shannon, there being over 75 moto. ears, and, a large number of person walking. Among those present wen Messrs Ongley, Fair, Eglinton ane J!razer, representing Manawhcnua Ui; ion; Messrs O'Connor, Procter, Casey Anderson, M. Winiata, and A. Rid. .ards, of the Horowhenua District Coiin '■til, and representatives of all the foe" 1 . ball fclubs in the Union. The caske. ■was covered with a large number o. beaatiful floral emblems, among whicl were wreaths from the Manawatu-Horo whenua District Council, Horowhenua Referees' Association, Shannon,. Wan derers, Hui Mai, County and Weraro; Football Clubs, Returned Soldiers' As gociation, Maoris of Shannon, and tlu Club Hotel staff. The relatives havt received froin all parts of tho Domm ion numerous telegrams, letters and messages of condolence.