Old salt passes

There passed away at Riverton last week a wellknown resident of the district in the person of Captain Joseph Roderique in his sixtyfourth year. Born in Victoria, the deceased came over to New Zealand with his late father in 1863 in a small cutter of only 25 tons called The Fly. The journey occupied nine days, and they eventually reached Preservation Inlet, and cast anchor at Crawfish Island. As provisions had run out, and having no chart on board, they were in dire straits; but suddenly espying the spars of a vessel in the inlet they made their

way to her, and were taken on board the old whaler Chance, where the late Captain Gilroy gave them food and provided them with a rough chart of the coast. They eventually put in at Port Chalmers, and began to trade between Dunedin and Stewart Island, the cargo from the lastnamed consisting of oysters. Some years later the deceased went to Riverton, and for some time carried passengers and provisions to Orepuki in a whaleboat when the gold rush took place there. As a seaman Captain Roderique had few equals, and he knew every bay and sound on the West Coast and Stewart Island, where he traded with a vessel called Grace.

In later years he built the schooner Endor and several small boats, most of his time being spent at sea. He took a great interest in aquatic events, and was one of the earliest competitors in rowing and sailing at the Riverton regatta. Three sons saw service in France, viz., Maurice, Sylvester, and Avon, the last two making the supreme sacrifice.