LEECH, William Haydon

William Haydon Leech

born circa 1842

birth registered Jun 1842 Marylebone vol. 1 page 164
married Pauline Constance Augarde 26 November 1868

died 27 March 1901 Washington Valley, Nelson, NZ

Leech - Augarde. Nov 26 [1868] at Christ Church by the Rev. G. H. Johnstone, William Haydon second son of E. J. Leech, Esq., Chichester, Sussex to Pauline Constance, third daughter of H. J. L. Augarde. [Henry John Louis Augarde]

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 280, 26 November 1868, Page 2

PHOTOGRAPHY
WILLIAMS'S PORTRAIT ROOMS.

H. Williams [Hanwell Williams] begs to inform the public of Greymouth that he has made arrangements with Mr W. H. LEECH, Photographer, of Nelson, to conduct the photographic business during the Christmas holidays, and begs to assure visitors that Mr Leech will give the best results that can be obtained.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1372, 21 December 1872, Page 3

At the Hokitika Exhibition in 1874 he won a silver medal for the best twenty photographic views of West Coast scenery. Rudolph Haigh won a silver medal for a collection of photographs from nature. Mr Brown of Nelson received an Honorable Mention for photographic portraits.

West Coast Times, Issue 2609, 3 February 1874, Page 5 and 6.

We now append a list of those in the Grey district who either, won prizes or obtained honorable mention:— The first on the list is Mr W. H. Leech, photographer, who has been awarded a silver medal for the best twenty photographic views of the West Coast scenery. These are especially good, and embrace the whole of the Coast, some of them being from Inangahua and the Lyell.

Grey River Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1718, 5 February 1874, Page 2

Grey River Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1735, 25 February 1874, Page 3

He was discharged in April 1874. - Grey River Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1775, 14 April 1874, Page 2

Snow up Country.— A correspondent writes:— The snow in the Molesworth, Tarndale, and Clarence districts is heavier and more continuous this season than has been known for some years. There is from three to five feet in many parts of the Clarence country, and the Acheron Valley is also very bad, but Tarndale itself has less snow than any of its approaches, and there had been no traffic between that station and the Molesworth for three weeks.

Mr Robertson, Manager of Molesworth with Mr W. Haydon Leech, alpine photographer, started last Thursday morning to see what it was like. There were some heavy drifts to pass through, and the greater part of the way it was simply ploughing through the deep snow.

It took the whole day to accomplish the distance. Although in the upper Alma Valley and around Tarndale the snow was lighter, the frosts had been much harder, and the ice and frozen ground was one of the worst features of the journey. Crossing one ice-bound patch, after cutting a variety of figures Mr Leech and his horse took a gentle roll together, the horse falling on his rider's leg, but they both scrambled up again somehow, too intent on the good fare awaiting both man and beast at the homestead heaving in sight to think of anything else, and at which they arrived just before dark.

As Mr Robertson thought the weather too doubtful they returned the next day, and since then there has been another heavy full of snow.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXII, Issue 158, 7 July 1886, Page 2

Mr W. H. Leech, alpine photographer reached Reefton yesterday, after a prolonged journey through the interior of the Blenheim and Marlborough districts. His album contains a very choice collection of mountain scenery illustrative of the natural beauty and grandeur of one of perhaps the least known portions of the Island. Mr Leech is to be complimented on the result of his trip.

Inangahua Times, Volume XI, Issue 1798, 22 December 1886, Page 2

Inangahua Times, Volume XI, Issue 1956, 26 December 1887, Page 2
(continued until 26 March 1887)
also see A. J. Stratford

Messrs Leech and Stratford of the Alpine Photo Company's Reefton branch, announce that their portrait gallery is now open, near the State School, Buller-road. The company invite inspection of their art collection.

Inangahua Times, Volume XI, Issue 1964, 13 January 1888, Page 2

Sudden Death. — Mr W. Haydon Leech died very suddenly at the residence of Mr Brooker, Washington Valley, about nine o'clock yesterday morning.

Deceased was in bed at the time, and the attention of those in the house was drawn by hearing groans proceeding from the bedroom, and on going in they found deceased passing away. Drs Andrew and Roberts were called, but deceased was beyond all aid. He had been in ill-health for a good time, and was for a while in the Nelson Hospital.

Deceased was 65 years of age, and was a photographer in Nelson a good many years ago, when he was well known, and much respected. An inquest will be held this afternoon at two o'clock.

Colonist, Volume XLIV, Issue 10068, 28 March 1901, Page 2

Inquest.— Yesterday afternoon an inquest was held at the Courthouse before Mr H. W. Robinson, Coroner, and the following; jurors— J, Morley (foreman), J. A. Louis, T. Hinchcliffe, E. W. Brown, C. H. Manning, and John Henman, on the body of the late W. Haydon Leech, who had died suddenly in Washington Valley on the previous day.

Mrs Emily Jane Brooker stated that deceased came to stay a while at their house after he came out of the Hospital. He used to complain of pains under his heart and in his back. On Wednesday morning she heard him groaning, and went into his bedroom to see what was the matter. She found him vomiting blood. He exclaimed "God heave mercy," and expired almost immediately. Dr Roberts stated he was called to see deceased, but on arrival he found deceased dead. He saw a large quantity of blood deceased had vomited. The post mortem examination disclosed aneurism of the aorta, which had burst. The aneurism was of long standing. The death was a purely natural one. A verdict in accordance with the medical evidence was returned.

Colonist, Volume XLIV, Issue 10078, 10 April 1901, Page 1