DEATH AT 106?

MRS. KATERURI MATCHITT. OPOTIKI EXPERIENCES. ■ /•' OPOTIKI, this day. . A link with Opotiki's earliest history was severed thie week when Mrs. Kateruri Matchitt, reliably stated, to be at least 106 years old, died at Opotiki. She was married to Colonel Gundry in Auckland, two witnesses of the wedding being Colonel Balnevis and Major Von Tempsky. Mrs. Matchitt retained vivid memories of early Opotiki history. She was over 30 years of age when she .accompanied the Rev. and Mre. Carl Valkuer to Auckland. She warned Mr. Volkner not to return to Opotiki, but he did so and was murdered in 1860. Mrs. Matc-hitt, upon hearing of his return, came back to try and save him, but was too late. However, she and her brothers saved the lives of white sailors. The Government in its gratitude, granted areas of land to Mrs. Matchitt. She was able to throw fresh light on the reason for Kereopa's murder of Mr. Volkner, stating that during a church service at Te Kuiti, soldiers surrounded the church, removing the" minister and settitig fire to the church. All the occupants of the building were burned to death, including Kereopa's wife and two daughters. When Kereopa heard of this, he swore vengeance on any minister who landed in the Dominion. Prior to Kereopa'e arrest, an innocent Opotiki Maori was, tried and hanged in Auckland. Later Kereopa was arrested by two T-uhoe Maoris at Waimana.

CAPTAIN J. P. XASPER. ,A familiar figure in the coastal trade about Auckland for nearly 50 years. Captain John Parker Kasper, has died in Auckland, aged 75. A member of a well-known seafaring family, Captain Kasper was born at ]>onsonby and attended the Pqnsonby school. Following the trade of his father, the late Mr. Charles Kasper. who was a master in the coastal trade, Captain Kasper sj>ent over 40 years in charge of scows and cutters plying out of Auckland until he retired from the eea some 15 years ago.

For several years Captain Kasper was secretary of the Coastal Masters' Association and also sat "as an assessor on many marine inquiries. Acting as ships' husband for J. J. Craig, Limited, he was in charge of several selvage operations. At the jubilee celebrations of the Ponsonby school this year he was one of the oldest ex-pupils present. He is survived by his wife, three sons, two daugh tere, 12 grandchildren and one greatgrandchild. Two of his sons are coastal masters.

MR. JOHN ANSTEY. DUNEDIN, this day. The death has occurred of Mr. John Anstey, aged 84. Born in Devon, Mr. Anstey came to New Zealand in 1878, settling in South Canterbury, where he took up farming. In 1905 he was appointed a member of the Royal Lands Commission, and as a result of this work was appointed to the Legislative Council in 1907, being a member until 1916. Reversing the usua! procedure, he then entered the House of Representatives as -inember for Waitaki, andserved for five years. He was a member of the Timam Borough Council, a foundation member of the South Canterbury Power Board, and a member of the Chamber of Commerce for 20 He is survived b yone daughter and three sons.—(Press Assn.)