DIED ON SAME DAY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 306, 23 November 1934, Page 7

DIED ON SAME DAY.

EARLY SETTLERS. The unusual occurrence of husband and wife passing away within 12 hours of each other toolc place to-day in the deaths of two highly respected residents of Bunnythorpe, Mr and Mrs Hudson Little. Mr Little who was 92 years of age, died at 1.30 a.m., and his wife, who was 90 years of age, passed away an hour before mid-day. Mr and Mrs Little had resided in Bunnythorpe for 43 years. On Christmas Day they would have celebrated the 63rd anniversary of their marriage. The late Mr Little’s parents lived in Cumberland in the same neighbourhood as John - Peel; and Hudson Little would relate how he used to play truant from school to follow the huntsman and his hounds on foot as far as possible: However, a sound thrashing from his father, who was, incidentally, the schoolmaster, led him to deserting his home to work for five years in various parts of England before he came to New Zealand in the sailing ship Colombo in 1864. The voyage lasted 130 days and he landed at Nelson. Walking to Greymouth, Mr Little was engaged for some time on the gold diggings, and later walked to Christchurch, where he undertook carpentering and farm work. It was at Christchurch that Mr Little met his future wife, then Miss Hannah Doggett, and they were married shortly afterwards in Rangiora. Soon after their marriage they went to Cust, where they took up farming. In the next year a severe hailstorm destroyed their 70-acre crop of wheat, the loss leading to the disposal of the farm. They moved to Carlton, near Rangiora, and resided there for 18 years. The property was disposed of at a figure that was satisfactory to Mr Little and they came to the Manawatu district. . Within a week of their arrival here they had purchased and had settled on a farm at Dixon’s Line, Bunnythorpe, in August, 1891. For the next eight years Mr and Mrs Little occupied the property, Mr Little retiring from there. Not only was Mr Little a successful farmer but he was also a carpenter of no mean ability. He built the family’s house at Carlton, and the residence to which lie retired, in Ingleby Street, Bunnythorpe, as well as a number of others in the district. Mr and Mrs Little celebrated the 60th anniversary of their wedding on December 25, 1931, and on that occasion they were the recipients of the congratulations of a wide circle of friends. With 43 years’ of residence in the district Mr Little became wellknown and highly respected there as well as further afield. About a week ago lie entered the Palmerston North Hospital, advancing years and the fact that he had lost his eyesight making that course desirable. Mrs Little was was born in Norwich, Norfolk, England, and came to New Zealand, in company with her parents, as a girl. The voyage was made in the Gleutanar, the landing being made at Lyttelton in 1857. The party walked over the Port hills to Christchurch and pitched their camp on the site which is now known as Cathedral Square. With them was Mrs Doggett’s brother, Mr Ivory, who was later Mayor of Rangiora. The family travelled northwards by bullock wagon, crossed the Waimakariri River and continued on to the farm of another brother, Mr W. E. Ivory, a well-known Rangiora nurseryman. Mr Doggett unfortunately passed away five weeks later. Mrs Little was also enfeebled by her great age, and the shock of the death of her husband proved too much for her. ; . The sympathy of a wide circle of friends will be extended to the members of the family in their double bereavement. There are left two sons, Mr William Little, of Paremata, and Mr Alfred Little, of Auckland. Another son and one daughter, who had accompanied their parents to the Manawatu district, passed away some years ago.