33-673: The West Coast Rugby Football Union , formed in 1890, is the official governing body for rugby union in the Westland County , Hokitika Borough and Greymouth Borough districts, located in the West Coast provincial region of New Zealand, and is affiliated to the New Zealand Rugby Football Union . The West Coast RFU provincial representative team, a founding member of the National Provincial Championship ,
66-649: A Hokitika resident, H.L. Michel, wrote to the Minister of Defence, Mr James Allen, seeking a favourable rank for William: The Hon. Jas. Allen Wellington, When I was in Greymouth a few days ago, I learned that Mr W.A. Rundle, who is really a good and competent man, had decided to offer his services for the front although he is a married man with a family. He has a commission in the Territorials, but his 12 months' probation does not expire until June. He has put in an application to
99-558: A new Westland County was created with roughly the same borders as the province. About this time, the population relative to the rest of the country began to decline, as the easily accessible gold soon ran out and the conditions were not ideal for farming. Local government changes saw the hinterland of Greymouth on both sides of the Grey River transformed into Greymouth Borough and Grey County and subsequently into Grey District, which includes portions of both historical provinces. Westland as
132-480: A population density of 0.80 people per km . The district is the most sparsely populated of New Zealand's 67 territorial authorities. Westland District had a population of 8,901 in the 2023 New Zealand census , an increase of 261 people (3.0%) since the 2018 census , and an increase of 597 people (7.2%) since the 2013 census . There were 4,539 males, 4,338 females and 24 people of other genders in 4,059 dwellings. 2.7% of people identified as LGBTIQ+ . The median age
165-449: A probationary N.C.O., and should he be successful in gaining same, he will be provided in Camp with every facility for qualifying for commissioned rank. Yours faithfully, (signed) J. Allen Minister of Defence.' Rundle went into camp on 8 February 1917 and was a corporal until being promoted to sergeant on 15 August, the day he sailed from New Zealand. William's attestation form describes him as
198-544: A self-employed mining agent, 5 ft 11in tall, 76 kg, fair complexion, blue eyes and light brown hair. His service number was 46905. There was further training in England until he crossed the channel to France on 20 March 1918. He now reverted to corporal serving in the NZ Rifle Brigade. He had a brief spell in hospital and rejoined his unit in the field on 19 April. Five days later he celebrated his 44th birthday while in
231-505: A unit of government emerged largely intact from the local government reforms of the 1980s and 1990s, merely changing from a county to a district and incorporating the Borough of Hokitika. Recently, the population has begun to grow more quickly due to "lifestyle" residents moving into the district. The district consists of a long, thin strip of land between the crest of the Southern Alps and
264-665: Is a constituent RFU of the Crusaders Super Rugby franchise, following the replacement of NPC cup qualification to the Super 10 with a franchise model by the NZRFU. West Coast joined the alliance, led by former Super 10 qualifiers Canterbury , together with the Tasman , Buller , Mid Canterbury and South Canterbury provincial football unions. West Coast have yet to win a Provincial Championship title in any division, but have finished in
297-540: Is administered by the Westland District Council . The district's population is 9,430 (June 2024). Westland was originally a part of Canterbury Province , administered from Christchurch , on the east coast. The booming population as a result of the gold rush , together with the difficulty of travel and communication across the Southern Alps, led first to the creation of a special Westland County , then
330-564: Is also the second oldest provincial trophy after the Ranfurly Shield. WILLIAM ARTHUR RUNDLE (1874–1918) Donor of the Rundle Cup (Written by Clive Akers) William Rundle was born on 24 April 1874 at No Town, a small mining settlement 25 km north-east of Greymouth. His parents, Thomas and Julia Rundle were both born in Cornwall, England, and had come out to New Zealand where Thomas became
363-461: Is based in Greymouth . It plays home matches at John Sturgeon Park (known as Rugby Park until 2018). The West Coast team, a semi-professional side that previously played in the second and third divisions of the National Provincial Championship , continues to compete at national provincial level in the second-tier Heartland Championship . In 2015, the team celebrated their 125th Jubilee. West Coast
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#1732898042862396-417: Is not contrary to the military policy, an officer at Trentham Camp. With kind remembrances, Sincerely yours, H.L. Michel (signed) The Minister replied saying: 'I regret to inform you that it will not be possible for Mr Rundle to proceed to Camp as an officer, and complete his twelve months period of probation there, as such action is not sanctioned by Regulations. He should, however, apply for appointment as
429-518: Is the only town in the Westland District with a population over 1,000. It is home to 3,250 people, 34.5% of the district's population. Other settlements and localities include: Hokitika Ward: Northern Ward: Southern Ward: Notes: bold - settlement; normal text - locality; italics - minor locality Westland District covers 11,827.85 km (4,566.76 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 9,430 as of June 2024, with
462-632: The Franz Josef and Fox glaciers . In the north, the Taramakau River , the largest river in the district, forms the boundary with the Grey District . The crest of the Southern Alps marks the eastern boundary. A small southern boundary lies between Westland proper and Fiordland , which lies within the Southland District . This boundary cannot be crossed by road. Hokitika , the district seat,
495-476: The Tasman Sea . The low-lying areas near the coast are a mixture of pastoral farmland and temperate rainforest . Westland temperate rainforests contain many conifers and receives high rates of precipitation due to orographic lifting caused by the Southern Alps. The eastern part of the district is steep and mountainous. Many small rivers flow down from the mountains. The middle part of the district notably contains
528-559: The Group Commander, asking to be allowed to put in the balance of the probationary period at Trentham Camp to fully qualify him. I understand the application has been favourably franked by the Group Commander. I may mention that Mr Rundle has taken a very active part in establishing a branch of the National Reserve in Greymouth and he is deservedly a popular officer. I merely ask you to be good enough to peruse his application, and if it
561-601: The West Coast. The Rundle Cup is contested by the West Coast and Buller when they meet in senior fixtures. The Rundle Cup was donated to the West Coast provincial union during their Annual General Meeting at the Albion Hotel on 24 May 1911 by William Rundle as a trophy for West Coast v Buller matches. Rundle was a local business man in the mining industry and former player for the Grey Football Club. He later perished on
594-416: The census question. Of those at least 15 years old, 837 (11.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 4,191 (55.7%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 2,181 (29.0%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $ 36,800, compared with $ 41,500 nationally. 546 people (7.3%) earned over $ 100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15
627-611: The family moved to Greymouth. William played rugby with the local White Star club and in later years was on the management committee of the United rugby club. He played cricket and became secretary of the Grey Cricket Association. In Greymouth William was also active in tennis, cycling and the Masonic Lodge. In addition to his work as a Government Life Insurance Co agent William acted as secretary to several goldmining companies and
660-582: The formal separation of Westland from Canterbury to form the short-lived Westland Province (1873–1876). Westland Province also included what is now the southern portion of Grey District, with the provincial boundary at the Grey and Arnold rivers. Greymouth proper was in Westland Province, Cobden , on the north bank of the Grey River, was in Nelson Province . After the abolition of the provinces in 1876,
693-685: The frontline in France during World War One. The first contest for the Rundle Cup was held in 1911 in Westport, and it replaced the Molloy Cup as the region’s symbol of rugby supremacy. The first game between the two Unions occurred in 1896 and bragging rights on the Coast now come via the Rundle Cup. Of the 37 challenge trophies contested by two provinces in New Zealand rugby it is of the longest continuous existence, it
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#1732898042862726-463: The local No Town School. When in his early teenage years William was a pupil-teacher at the school and later became a teacher at Taylorville school. In 1893, when aged 20, he was appointed headmaster at Ahaura School and remained there until retiring in 1901 to pursue his interests in mining. On 4 December 1899 William married Adelaine 'Ada' Mary Gough at Ahaura. There was some controversy during his term at Ahaura when parents became concerned that William
759-650: The second-division top four for five seasons since the Heartland Championship era began, including finishing as Heartland Championship minor premiers in 2009 (before losing the Meads Cup Grand Final to North Otago ). West Coast have never held the Ranfurly Shield . West Coast's Ranfurly Shield challenges: There have been eight players selected for the All Blacks whilst playing their club rugby in
792-502: The storekeeper at No Town from the 1870s. The village also had a hotel and post office. William had three brothers (T.A., C.G., and Edward James), and two sisters, Tryphena who married William Robert Moore in 1913 and lived at Mokau and later in Auckland, and a second sister whose name is unknown but she later became Mrs R.C. Heffernan and lived in Greymouth. A fourth brother, Francis Henry, died in 1892. William and his siblings were educated at
825-557: The town of Hokitika. The district is one of three included within the West Coast Region . In the early years of settlement in Westland, gold was a major commodity, bringing prospectors flocking into the area. After the gold ran out, those who remained turned to pastoral farming. (Unlike the more northern parts of the West Coast, Westland has not developed coal mining.) Recently, tourism has become more important, with drawcards such as
858-548: The trenches. Corporal William Rundle's time on the Somme battlefield was brief. He was killed in action on 2 May 1918. His gravestone is at the Euston Road British Cemetery, Colincamps, Somme, France (grave reference: I.J.26) West Coast Rugby Football Union is made up of 7 clubs: Westland District Westland District is a territorial authority district on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island . It
891-489: Was 40 years old when World War I broke out in 1914 and even in 1916 when conscription was introduced he was over age for the ballots. Married men over the age of 40 and with children were exempt. He had been involved in military training in Greymouth and in July 1916 was made a temporary 2nd Lieutenant with No. 63 Company in Greymouth. However, felt he had to do his bit for his country and enlisted for service abroad. On 22 December 1916
924-557: Was 47.3 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 1,377 people (15.5%) aged under 15 years, 1,206 (13.5%) aged 15 to 29, 4,437 (49.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,887 (21.2%) aged 65 or older. People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 87.2% European ( Pākehā ); 16.5% Māori ; 2.0% Pasifika ; 4.7% Asian ; 0.5% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 4.6% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English
957-455: Was a sharebroker and mining agent. In September 1910 William informed the West Coast rugby union that he wished to donate a cup for competition between West Coast and Buller unions. The cup would replace the previous trophy, Molloy Cup, which West Coast now held outright. The Molloy Cup had been donated by Rev. Father Molloy, of Westport, who made the offer in September 1905. The original condition
990-505: Was acting as a local agent for a life insurance company and they felt he wasn't focusing on his teaching duties. However, the dispute appeared to have been settled amicably. William took part in many community activities and played competition cricket with the local club. William and Ada moved to Hokitika in 1901 and their son Francis 'Frank' was born there on 30 September 1901, followed by daughter Adelaine Mary on 15 September 1903. The children, Frank and Ada, took part in musical recitals when
1023-541: Was spoken by 97.8%, Māori language by 3.2%, Samoan by 0.5% and other languages by 7.1%. No language could be spoken by 1.5% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.4%. The percentage of people born overseas was 15.1, compared with 28.8% nationally. Religious affiliations were 30.7% Christian , 0.6% Hindu , 0.2% Islam , 0.4% Māori religious beliefs , 0.3% Buddhist , 0.8% New Age , and 1.1% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 57.1%, and 8.9% of people did not answer
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1056-521: Was that 3,882 (51.6%) people were employed full-time, 1,074 (14.3%) were part-time, and 138 (1.8%) were unemployed. The Westland District is governed by an elected council , headed by a mayor , who is elected at large. The current mayor is Helen Lash. Councillors are elected to represent multi-member wards. Three councillors are elected for the Northern Ward, three for the Southern Ward, and four for
1089-462: Was that the trophy became the property of the winning team that won twice in succession or three times at intervals. However, it was later revised to become three times in succession or five times at intervals. The Molloy Cup results were: 1905 at Westport Drawn 3–3 1906 at Greymouth Buller won 9–3 1907 at Westport Buller won 5–3 1908 at Greymouth West Coast won 11–4 1909 at Cape Foulwind West Coast won 16–3 1910 at Greymouth West Coast won 16–0 William
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