PAHIATUA.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 2, 2 December 1931, Page 12

PAHIATUA.

PAHIATUA, Nov. 30.

Mr and Mrs W. S. Algle, off Main Road, Pahiatua, celebrated the 54th anniversary of their wedding during the past week. Mrs J. Clulow, late of Pori, is at present visiting Pahiatua. She has lately returned from an extended tour abroad. The sympathy of settlers will be extended to Mr and Mrs S. A. Wylie, of Kaitawa, in the death, on Saturday evening, after a fortnight’s illness of their youngest daughter. Mr G. H. Hodd, who was recently taken very ill, suffered a relapse, and is again confined to his bed. The death has occurred in the Pahiatua Hospital of Mr Joseph Henry Berry, aged 74 years, one of the pioneers of the Pongaroa (Forty-Mile Bush) district A son of the late Henri de Boriy, the late Mr Berry was born at NeUon in 'the fifties. He was engaged in sheep-farming pursuits on Tarndale Station, Marlborough, and later in gold-digging on the Mahskipawa goldfields. On coming to the North Island he was one of those employed in opening the Makuri Gorge, packing" stores and mails for the road construction workers. As the settlement at Makuri progressed he was appointed manager in the first store —an iron whare —established at Pongaroa 37 years ago. Deceased was also appointed first postmaster at Pongaroa and was instrumental insecuring a site for the local school and for the Domain. A fino sprinter and rifle shot, Mr Berry was the recognised leader of local and sporting activities in the early days of settlement in the district. He was also the district’s first justice of the peace. Ho later joined the Public Works Department and was appointed overseer for the district. Ho was transferred afler a period to Whakatane, but subsequently returned to Pongaroa as overseer to the Akito County Council. Deceased married Miss Ellen Coe, second daughter of .Mr W. R. Coe, of North Auckland and formerly of Pongaroa, and leaves an adult family of eight sons and five daughters.