[Mike]

Hello.

Does anyone happen to know the first or full name of E. J. Kime? ie. The unfortunate chap who survived for 5 days in the snow in a ditch in a 1922 winter, then promptly died at Alpha Hut shortly after rescuers gave him some brandy (with good intentions).

I thought Chris McLean’s Tararua book would have the name somewhere, but it only ever seems to refer to him as E. J. Kime.

Thanks for any help with this.
Mike.

[Steve K]

Hasn’t the National Library been doing a huge project to digitise old newspapers? I wonder if they have Wellington newspapers from 1922. I hear you can search on keywords and such when searching for newspaper articles. Pity about the brandy.

[Mike]

Thanks Steve, that’s an excellent idea. I can’t seem to find a direct reference in the online newspapers from that time, but a 10 minute search turned up:

An E. J. Kime who passed the lower examinations for Magnetism and Electricity, and also for Applied Mechanics (machines and hydrolics), published in the 4th Feb 1915 Evening Post. http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP19150204.2.146&srpos=3&e=

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100–1—-0Kime-all

An Esmond Kime, apparently a young postal official who was admitted to hospital after a bicycle accident according to the 13th Jan 1915 Evening Post. http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP19150113.2.134&srpos=45&e=

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100–1—-0Kime-all

There’s nothing definite about whether E. is short for Esmond, however. I might see if I can figure out how to look up births, deaths & marriages.

[Mike]

Got it! Historical births, deaths and marriages are searchable online at https://www.bdmonline.dia.govt.nz/ , and there’s an Esmond James Kime who died in 1922 age 24. Hopefully that makes it likely enough. Thanks for the tip.

[Author]

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