Ohinemuri Regional History Journal 24, July 1980
Mr H. L. Boughton, O.B.E.
One of the best known local identities, Mr Herbert Lorraine (Lorrie) Boughton O.B.E., who was living in retirement at Waihi Beach, has died aged 72.
Born in Hampshire, England, he came to New Zealand as a child. He was educated at Wellington Boys' College and was admitted to the Bar in 1930 and set up practice as a solicitor in Waihi in 1933.
He made a name for himself in his profession, becoming associated with the late Mr J.B. Beeche nearly 40 years ago, forming the partnership of Beeche and Boughton and then Boughton and Grant until his retirement 18 months ago. He was much sought after for court work and was held in very high esteem by the Bar.
WORK FOR MINERS
Acting as legal representative for the Waihi Miners' Union, during the goldmining era, Mr Boughton won the admiration of many hundreds of mine workers and their families for his legal negotiations and personal assistance.
Mr Boughton was Waihi Borough solicitor and coroner until his retirement in 1971. He was a member of the Auckland Law Society.
Mr Boughton was one of the longest serving members of the Thames Valley Electric Power Board. He served on the board for 33 years, 22 of them as chairman before he retired in 1971. He also served for 13 years on the executive of the Power Supply Authorities Association.
Mr Boughton was awarded the O.B.E. in the 1968 Queen's Birthday Honours for service to the community.
KEEN SPORTSMAN
He was a keen sportsman being a life member of the Waihi Surf Life Saving Club and the Waihi Rugby Union Club. For many years he was one of the Waihi delegates on the Thames Valley Rugby Union and for a period was a committee member of the Ohinemuri Jockey Club, now the Paeroa Racing Club.
In his younger days he was interested in tennis and played a good deal of that sport in the Thames Valley. He was also associated with the Waihi Boxing Association.
He served as chairman of the Waihi Fire Board and president of the now defunct Waihi Federal Band. In 1952 he was president of the Rotary Club of Waihi.
At the funeral service held in St. John's Anglican Church, Waihi, the many things Mr Boughton had offered the community were epitomised by six pallbearers representing the Waihi Court, Police, Rugby Union, Surf Club, Fire Service, and his family.
He is survived by his sister, Mrs Lillah Carmichael, of New Plymouth.
Mr Joe Anderson
The late Joe Anderson was a very highly respected member of the Waihi Beach Community.
Born at Panmure, he came to Waihi at an early age, where his parents had taken up land in the east end of Waihi. Later his folk shifted to a farm on the Tauranga Road close to Waihi Cemetery.
Joe, and his sister Mary, who still lives at Waihi Beach, did most of their schooling at the Waihi Convent School. The family moved to Waihi Beach in 1932. From there Joe worked in the Athenree Forest helping to plant the first crop of trees. During the 1939-45 War he learned the Carpentry trade and worked at that till his retirement in 1966. A devout practising Catholic, he helped to build the Catholic Church at the Beach.
Owing to the fact that he had a short leg he was limited in his participation in sports. For many years he played Golf both at the Beach and later at Waihi. He did considerable voluntary work on the Course and Clubhouse at Waimata.
In latter years he found the walking on the Golf Course too strenuous, so confined his sporting activities to Bowling. He was a Life Member of the Beach Club, and was an active member till the time of his death, and had won many trophies through the years.
A keen member of the Waihi Historical Society he often submitted articles for the Journals. Being considered an authority on early Beach History, especially the land tenure of the leasehold areas he played an active part on many local committees.
Gifted with a very droll sense of humour Joe's opinion was often asked for on many subjects, and though his opinion was not always correct, one could always be assured of an amusing angle to any question.
He will be affectionately remembered by all who knew him, and they for their part should feel the richer for having known, Old Joe.