PERSONAL ITEMS

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLI, Issue XLI, 12 August 1921, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS

A London cable announces the death of Mr H. J. Gerritsen, butter importer^ Inspector Murray, who takes over command of the Taranaki police district, arrived in New Plymouth last night.

Mr Newton King, who is visiting' Christchurch, became suddenly ill on Wednesday evening, and had to be conveyed to a private hospital. It was reported last night that Mr King's condition was improving. Mr. George Williams, who died at Sandon on Sunday, aged 87 years, came to New Zealand in 1865. He settled first at Lower Hutt, going to Sandon in 1873, and was one of the founders of the district^ as well as the first schoolmaster there. :

At the advanced age of 98 years, Mr' Ralph Gracie died on Tuesday at Eden- j dale (Auckland). Born in Edinburgh! in 1823, Mr Gracie emigrated when a ! boy to Tasmania, and a few years later came to New Zealand, where he! has been a colonist for over 72 years. A shipwright by trade, he followed his occupation for many years. He built! the first church at Te Awamutu, the! old mission station building in thafi township. After two years' residence i at Te Awamutu he moved to Waiuku j and took up a 10-acfe farm, adjoining! Colonel Haultain's property, and' known as "Inglewood Forest Farm." Mr Gracie was all through the Maori War, having charge of the GovernV ment stores and acting as guide to the' soldiers. The first cheese factory and ! public hall and the first two churches' at Waiuku were built by him. -■' The death took place in Wellington on Monday of Mr. W. J. G. Hunt, anj old resident of Wellington, who was for; many years known in New Zealand as I "Samoa" Hunt. The appellation arose! out of the claim made by Mr. Hunt to have been the adopted son of the latej Malietoa Talavou, formerly King of Samoa before the islands were divided into protectorates under the German and American Governments. The late Mr. Hunt was intimately connected with Samoan affairs at-the time of the strife for kingship between the two ; chiefs Tamasese and Malietoa. and, onj the former's deportation, between Mata-i ofa and Malietoa, England supporting the claims of the latter. Subsequently a treaty was made at Berlin, whereby Britain, withdrew her claims, and Malietoa was placed on the throne. Mr. Hunt, who had supported England's claims and was a staunch adherent of . Malietoa, became involved in political [ intrigue, and was" deported, at Geri many s fequest it is understood, from! the island in a British gunboat. The deceased always said that he had stoutly maintained England's rights in the group, and prophesied that the day would come when German influence in the group would have to be curtailed in tavour of England's—a prophecy he hved to see come "Sue. The late Mr. j Hunt was interested in the mining property that was taken over by the Dominion Consolidated Developing Company (Marlßorough), mining goid and scheelite in Marlborough. It is understood, that the deceased has a brother resident in Auckland.