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Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 70, 21 March 1908, Page 5

Owing to the wet weather, the wholesale merchants employees' picnic, which was to have been held at Motutapu today has been postponed.

Another very old settler has passed ipvay in the person of Mr 'W uliain Baker, of Rocky Nook, who died at iour o'clock this morning. Deceased leaves a wife, five sons, four daughters and twen-ty-one grandchildren. Mr Baker was born in Somersetshire, England, in 1828, and he came out to New Zealand in 1853. On his arrival in Auckland he joined the firm of Messrs. Brown, Campbell and Co., but after some years he left them to start in business at corner of Durham and Queen streets, in paitnership with Mr John Morrin. In a few years Mr Baker dissolved with Mr Morrin and rejoined the firm of Brown, Camnbell and Co., with whom he remained until he finally retired from business about twenty years ago. Deceased was niuoh respected, and he was a great student of Shakespeare and Sir Walter Scott. In business circles Mr. Baker was for many years a good authority. The eldest and youngest sons are both in business in Sydney, the second son, Mr. C. C. Baker, is a partner in the well-known firm of Ewington and Baker, The third son, Mr. E. Baker, is a cabinet manufacturer in Newton, and Mr. G. H. Baker is in business in Commerce-street. Another worker's home, in the Lawry settlement, at Ellerslie, containing five rooms, and situated on land one rood in extent, was to-day thrown open for lease at the District Lands Office. The foundation of lifelong ill-healtb may be laid for young girls by failure to keep their strength and health up to normal. Steams' Wine is best for them because it is a true tonic.—Advt. Owing to the stormy weather prevailing on the West Coast a good number of passengers for the South have found the overland route of service under the circircumstances, as passengers can for instance leave Auckland by Monday's train, proceed down the Wanganui River on Tuesday, and arrive in Wellington on Wednesday night ia time to proceed that same evening if desired to Chxistchurch. —(Ad.).