OBITUARY

Southland Times, Issue 18848, 14 June 1920, Page 5

OBITUARY

MR JOHN JAMES WARD. The news of the Midden death of Mr John Janies Ward, president of the Southland Boxing Association, who, at the age of 53 years, passed quie'ly away at his residence in Esl; street last evening will be received w ; th surprise and regret by the many people with whom he has- been associated during his long residence in Invercargill. He came to New Zealand from Tasmania tit the age of 2 years, and with the exception of four or five years spent in Ausivalia, he had since resided in Invercargill. He joined the Garrison Band when it was first formed, was a playing member for 21 years, end in recognition of his services was elec■eil a life member. When in Australia lie was engaged as a tenor-horn player in the Melbourne Exhibition Kami of 1888, the members of which were chosen from all parts of Victoria. The eldest son of the late Mr Peter Ward, an old resident of Invercargill and a famous wrestler, boxer and athlete in his day, the late Mr John James Ward inherited much of his father’s- love for sport, and hi his young days was a very good amateur boxer. I' is probably in connection with this sport that during late years he was most popularly known in Southland. Since its foundation he had horn -a member of the Southland Boxing Association, and in his unassuming way he did more than is, perhaps, generally known to most people. At the last annual meeting of the Association he was elected to the position of president, and it was fitting that he should have received this tribute Pie was keenly interested in other branches of sport, however, and these together with all charitable objects, found in him a ready friend. For many seasons he was connected with the Britannia Football Club, and was also a very' well-known breeder of pointer and retriever dogs, with which he won prizes-, in all parts of New Zealand, lie came from a sporting family, and Ids brother Peter, 'he distinguished footballer, has representative cap? of more countnes and provinces, than probably any other player in the world. His brothers James Joseph and Michael Ward are also keen sport? ami acted as officials at the recent boxing tournament. The late Mr Ward was a bricklayer by trade, and did the brickwork for the local Roman Catholic Basilica, the Milton Woollen Mills, and many public buildings. Together with his brother Michael, he took part in the construction of most of the public and business premises of Gore. About a month ago he had a fall from a scaffolding, and during the last week had complained of pains in the chesty This did not deter him, however, from doing a preat amount of work in connection with the boxing tournament.