OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 172, 18 April 1939, Page 4

OBITUARY

Mrs. James Patching, Wellington A much-respected citizen and a daughter of one of Wellington’s pioneers, Mrs. James Patching, died on April 7. A daughter of the late Abraham Mudge, she, with her parents and brother, Mr. Geo. Mudge, Wellington, left England in August, 1874, in the ship Hurunui, arriving in New Zealand in February, 1875. The family, along with other passengers to the colony, were quartered in the immigrant barracks, which were situated on the present site of the National Art Gallery. At the age of 18 she married Mr. J. Patching, the fourth son of one of the early pioneers of the Nelson Province, and had, except fop a year’s travel overseas to visit a son’s grave in France, lived continuously in WelUngton. A keen Church worker, Mrs. Patching was a pioneer member of the South Wellington Church of Christ, and saw the membership grow from a mere handful who met in the old Newtown School, to the present large congregation. She was a' foundation member of the Churches of Christ Christian Women’s Auxiliary, and was for a period Dominion secretary of that body, having held also all the offices of the local C.W.A., and being at the time of her death a trustee of the South Wellington branch. Mrs. Patching was one of the first scholars of the Newtown State School, and had the pleasure a few years ago of attending the jubilee celebrations of the school. She leaves her husband, two sons, Mr. N. L. Patching and Mr. K. G. Patching, and two daughters, Mrs. M. J. Williamson and Mrs. R. G. Barnard, all of Wellington; and six grandchildren.

Eketahuna Croquet Club’s Party. The Eketahuna Croquet Club held a highly successful garden party on a recent afternoon. Competitions and a treasure hunt were among the attractions. The results were: Hurry-scurry, Mesdames Marenzi and L. Brown; peg, Mrs. Hansen. The treasure hunt was won by Mrs. L. Brown and a tea com petition by Mrs. Hendersen. The stalls