MR. J. HARDING

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 30, 6 February 1933, Page 9

MR. J. HARDING

(By Telegraph.) " (Special to "The Evening Post.") PALMEESTON N., This Day. In the passing of Mr. John Harding on Thursday, Woodville lost one of its best known and widely respected residents. Born in Great Barrington, Oxfordshire, England, on 18th February, 1860, the late Mr. Harding came out to New Zealand with his parents as a boy of 10 in the sailing ship Inverene and the family landed at Napier" in March, 1875. As a young man, Mr. Harding took up land at Mangahao, whore he and Mrs. Harding underwent many of the privations of the pioneer settlers. On the occasion of big bush fires' thirty years ago, Mr. Harding had to protect his wife and family by putting them down, a well for hours while he fought the flames. Beturning to Woodville, he took up the well known property, "Croxford." Among the bodies 'that Mr. Harding was associated with were the Woodville Borough Council, the Dannevirke Hospital Board, and the Napier War Belief , Association, of which he was chairman. He was one of the earliest Eechabites of the Hope of Woodville Tent, and was circuit steward of the Methodist Church and superintendent of,the Sunday school for 25 years. p. Besides his widow, he leaves a grownup family of four girls and one son. The members of the family are Mrs. George Thomas (Otano), Miss C. Harding (Woodville), Mrs. M. F. Eyan (Pahiatua), Miss Mavis Harding (Woodville), and Mr. Edward Harding (Woodville); . : :