OBITUARY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 3, 5 January 1915, Page 3

OBITUARY.

Beef ton reports the death of two very old identities, namely, Mrs W. S. Hindmarsh, 80 years of age, and Mrs MeQuilliu, an earlier pioneer, 79 years of age.

Mr R. Garrick, one of the oldest of New Zealand journalists, died at Nelson on Christmas Eve. The deceased in his youth served articles with a Glasgow legal firm, but abandoned the law for press work. He arrived in New Zealand about 1800, and in te following year walked from Dunedin to Invercargill,' there being no road or regular coacli service. For some time he was employed as reporter on the Southland News, and was at the time of his death the only surviving member of the then staff. Later he started a paper in Riverton, which then promised to be an important shipping centre. Hopes were net realised, and Mr Garrick left for the West Coast, which was then in the zenith of a mining boom. He returned to Otago, was at Gabriel’s Gully, Tuapeka, and the Shotover in their palmy days, when thousands from all quarters hastened thither, in quest of the precious metal, which was being unearthed at a sensational rate. Mr Garrick was one of those who started the Cromwell Argus, but did not remain long in Central Otago. Proceeding to the North Island, he established the Waikato limes, and later a paper in Masterton. For some years he was engaged in Parliamentary reporting, and he. acted as private secretary to Mr John Sheehan, Native Minister in Sir George Grey’s Cabinet. Later he edited the Waimea Plains Review, established by Mr H. S. Valentine, .and on that journal ceasing publication took up free lance work, contributing articles to various journals. He was an enthusiastic student of New Zealand’s early history, and wrote extensively on Maori traditions as well as .publishing ,a book, “New' Zealand Far South,” dealing with our outlying islands, the Campbells, Aucklands and Macquaries. ■■ -- -