From the NELSON EXAMINER & New Zealand CHRONICLE
- 23 MARCH 1870

PATENTS ACT 1860
Notice is hereby given, that APPLICATION has been made to his Excellency the Governor, by and on behalf of APIRIDION RKYS, of Wellington, in the Province of Wellington, gentlman, for the grant to him of LETTERS PATENT, pursuant to the provisions of the "Patents Act, 1860," or the exclusive use within the colony of New Zealand, of an INVENTION for CLEANING PHORMIUM TENAX and other fibres by the use of Chemical Appliances.
Any persons desirous of entering an objection to such grant, is required to send within four months of the publication hereof, to the ofice of JOHN BOYLE BENNETT, Esq., at Wellington, the officer appointed to receive the same, a Statement in Writing, setting forth clearly the grounds of such objection, subscribed with his proper name and address.
Dated at Welligton, the 15th day of March, 1870
IZARD AND PHARAZYN, Solicitors or the Applicant


- 21 January 1870
RIKYS - On December 21, at Masterton, Wairarapa, the wife of Mr S. Rikys, of a son (Arthur Rikys ??)


9 November 1870
... A flax mill will shortly be started at Masterton, Wellington, in which machines on a new principle, patented by Mr Spiridion Rikys, are to be used. It is expected that the flax produced will be worth ?100 per ton


From the EVENING POST
- 18 March 1871

The MASTERTON FLAX COMPANY LIMITED
- (extracts taken from the article, read more at the link)
Inaugurated under the Joint Stock Companies Act, 1870
CAPITAL ?3,000 IN 1000 SHARES OF ?3 EACH ($390 in 2011)
Payable: ?1 on application for Shares and the remaining ?2, if required, at 10s per share, and at intervals not less than six months from each call.
Mr Rikys, we understand, invented his process at home, and just tried it on flax sent home as dressed ...

DIRECTORS: Mr Joseph MASTERS, Dr BOOR, Mr H. BANNISTER
MANAGER: Mr S. RIKYS
AGENTS, Wellington: Messrs LEVIN & Co
SOLICITORS: Messrs IZARD & PHARAZYN
BANKERS: UNION BANK OF AUSTRALIA

MASTERTON,21st February 1871
The object of this Company is to carry out Mr Riky's process for dressing the New Zealad flax; and at the same time to manufacture woolpacks, scrim cloth and other materials ...
The following certificates relative to the flax prepared by the above process has been given in London by the well-known firm, Messrs NOBLE & Co., vix:-
LONDON 17th June 1869, "Gentlemen - After carefully examining the samples of New Zealand Flax shown to the writer at our office, we consider the improvement in value effected by Mr Riky's process on the sample we gave him equal to ?10 per ton ... more
signed G. & A NOBLE
... Nothing will be spared by the Directors and particularly by the Manager, to promote the good result of this Company, which they do not hesitate to recommend to the public as a safe and good investment. Applications for shares, of which a large number have been already taken up, can be made at
Messrs LEVIN & CO., or Mr S. RIKYS, Wellington
Mr HENRY BANNISTER, Masterton
Mr A. K. ARNOT & Mr M. HIRSCHBERG, Greytown


- 21 December 1871
RIKYS - On December 21, at Masterton, Wairarapa, the wife of Mr S. Rikys, of a son (Reginald Rikys)


From the WELLINGTON INDEPENDANT
24 Juee 1872

The Masterton Flax Company is defunct. Mr Rikys, the manager, or late manager (which I cannot tell, shareholder though unfortunately I am) clears out in a few days. When the calls still unpaid have been collected there will be nearly enough to pay off liablities. Another call will be required to cover any deficiency

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some RIKYS MARRIAGES 1894 - 1931

Arthur George Rikys
- married Janet/Jessie Howie *SHANKS in 1901 (see Reginald below)
- some of their known children born in Te Kopuru (may not be all)
1902 - Gwendoline Ruth Rikys
1904 - Gerald Arthur Rikys
1906 - Thalma Jessie Rikys
1907 - Basil Raymond Rikys
1909 - Daphne Mary Rikys
1911 - Gordon Cyril Rikys
- Gordon served in WWII as Gunner 61181
- he enlisted from 2 Shortland St, Whangarei
- his next of kin was his sister Mrs McInness of Tangowahine
- he was reported missing 1942, later found safe
In 1924 Arthur bought a bull for 20 gunieas in Lepperton, Taranaki

George Arthur Rikys
- married Kathleen Elizabeth HATTAWAY IN 1931

Gwendoline Ruth Rikys
- married John Thomas McINNESS in 1930

Katherine Louisa Rikys
- married Gerald Arthur JACKSON in 1894

Reginald Constantine Rikys
- son of Spiridion
- on 11 June 1898, Reginald was the groomsman for William Howie DRINMAN when he married Amy *SHANKS, daughter of Gavin E, Shanks of Roseneath, Kaukapakapa
- Regnald married Alice Maud MASEFIELD 29 Deptember 1908 in a quiet, family wedding at Te Kopuru in the home of Alice's sister. Miss HAMMOND was the bridesmaid and Dick MASEFIELD was the best man
- they had Phyllis Maude Rikys in 1910
possibly other children

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some RIKYS DEATHS 1878 - 2008
- some birth dates are estimated from age at death -

Alice Maude Rikys 1959 aged 80
- born 1879

Barbara Jean Rikys 1947 aged 3 days
- born 1947

Basil Raymond Rikys 1997 aged 90
- born 8 June 1907

Emily Adelaide Rikys 1991 aged 86
- born 30 May 1905

Emily Beatrice Rikys 1948 aged 74
- born 1874

Emily Harriett Rikys 1918 aged 86
- born 1832

Gerald Arthur Rikys 1973 aged 69
- born 14 February 1904

Gordon Cyril Rikys 1993 aged 82
- born 11 April 1911 in Whangarei

Gordon Richard Rikys 1941 aged 4 hours
- born 1941

Graham Masefield Rikys 1987 aged 75
- born 9 March 1912

Jean Nancy Rikys 1948 aged 20
- born 1928

Mabel Rikys 2008 aged 93
- born 26 August 1915

Mary Ann Rikys 2004 aged 91
- born 23 January 1913

Phyllis Wendy Rikys 1956 aged 3
- born 1853

Reginald Constantine Rikys 1914 aged 44, farm manager of Tikinui, Northand (200km north of Auckland)
- born January 1871
- his estate was administered by the Public Trust in 1915
- his Estate was valued for Stamp Duty in 1916 (Auckland) at ?958
- (equivalent in 2011 of about $114,000)

Spiridion Rikys 1878 aged 56
- born 1822