PERSONAL

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 420, 10 June 1922, Page 5

PERSONAL

Mr R. f). Dnxliold has been re-elected president of the Auckland Farmers’ Union. Messrs K. Wilson and A. E. Harding have been elected vice-presidents. Mr U, McVeagh, of Auckland, has returned after an absence from the Dominion of seven months, during which he toured extensively in the East and in Europe. Mr 11. C. Williams, the custodian of the Wellington Art Gallery, who is now in his 85th year, is retiring from the service of the academy at the end of the month.

The local Supremo Court sessions having concluded, the Chief Justice, Sir Robert Stout, accompanied by Lady Stout, who has been staying in Palmerston North, left for Wellington this afternoon by the Napier express.

Advice was received yesterday by Mrs H. B. Tucker, of Palmerston North, of the death ol her mother, at the age of 85 years, at Ashburton, Devon, England. The deceased lady had enjoyed good health to the fast. She was recently visited by the .Misses Tucker.

Mr John Peck, who has died at Lower Hutt at the ago of 77 years, was one of the oldest settlers in the llutt; Valley, having been horn at Petonc. He leaves a widow, aged 73 years, hut no family. Years ago he was gardener to the late Dr, Wilford. father of Mr T. M. Wilford, M.P., and later a member of the Lower llutt Borough Council bialf.

The death has occurred at Kaikottra of Mr Charles Evans, an old and respected settler. Born in Gloucestershire in 1836, Mr Evans came out to Now Zealand, landing in Wellington in 1860, after four months on the voyage. Later he went to Picton, and afterwards engaged in farming operations on the Peninsula. He whs the first to undertake the planting of lucerne in Kaikoura.

This morning at the courthouse a presentation was made to Mr J. C. Madden, of the staff, who is to leave on transfer to Invercargill. Mr E. W. Cave, in making

the presentation on behalf of the courthouse staff and police, paid a rVihnte to the capable manner in which Mr Madden line! performed his work and mentioned the high esteem in which he is held by the staff.

Last night there passed away at the residence of her daughter, Miss Byrne, of Rangitikei street, Palmerston North, another of New Zealand’s fast-diminishing band of pioneers, in the person of Mrs M. Reidy. The deceased lady, a native of Galway, Ireland, arrived in Wellington 50 years ago. Her husband, who pro-deceased her several years ago, was a well known contractor of Napier. Of a family of ten children, the following are still living: Mesdames Byrne, Wright, Kale and Thompson (Palmerston North) and Donovan (Hawke’s Ray), Messrs Loo. Reidy (Wellington), Thomas (Auckland), and John and Adrian (Palmersi on North). The late Mrs Reidy was well known to a largo circle of friends and acquaintances in the North Island, and the news of her death will be received _ with deep regret. Her cheerfulness, hospitality and willingness to assist the distressed and needy brought her the goodwill and respect of all with whom she came in contact.