PERSONAL ITEMS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 16 October 1929, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS

Mr W. M. Eggjestone, inspector of the Public Trust Office, is at present- in Nelson.

Mr E. J. Weeks, a Nelson College old boy, son of the former Dean./of Nelson; and now of Worcester College, has beep, awarded the Hamsworth Law Scholarship of £2OO a year for three years, states a London cable message:

Mr Joshua Brown Rayner, who had resided in Blenheim for a period of .64 years and was one of the town’s most widely-known and respected citizens, passed quietly away at the residency of liis daughter, Mrs F. Coldwell, Nosworthy street, on Sunday evening, reports the “Express”. Born at Morley, England, in the year 1851, the late Mr Rayner, as a lad of ten years, accompanied his father, the late Air Joseph Rayner, and his mother, to New Zealand in 1861, landing at Port Chalmers. After removing to Nelson for a short period, the family came to Blenheim ip 1865, where the deceased eventually entered into partnership with his fatheras wool and skin merchants in Grove Road and afterwards at Scuthside. The business was successfully carried on for a 'great many years. The late Mr Rayner took a" prominent part in public and semi-public activities, and he was a highly-esteemed member of several local bodies, and in that capacity rendered valuable service to the community with which he was associated for such a long period of years. An ardent cricketer in his early days, the late Air Rayner made. the turf liis particulai’ sport afterwards and he maintained his membership of the Alarlborough Racing Club from its inception. For two or three years he filled the secretarial position, and subsequently was. a steward. One of the founders of the Lodge Wairau, the deceased was an early member of tile Alasonic fraternity, but he had not taken an active part in lodge affairs for some years. The late Air Rayner was predeceased by his wife some seven years ago, but he leaves a family of two daughters, Airs F. C'oldwell, Blenheim, and Mrs J. D. Mitchell, Invercargill, and one son, Mr A. Rayner of the staff of the National Bank at Dunedin, who is at present visiting Blenheim on holiday. There are five grandchildren, and the surviving sisters and brothers are Mrs S. Connolly, Airs T. B. Salmon, and Aliss Rayner, Blenheim, and Air Chas. Rayner, Ohaupo.

The death of Mr William Barton removes one of Marlborough’s most highly respected citizens and leaves a wide circle mourning for the less of a friend loved by all for his generous, genial and kindly nature, reports the “Express”. The late Mr Barton was born at Renwicktown 66 years ago and spent liis early life on his father’s farm in the Onamalutu Valley. Later he was in the service of various local bodies, building bridges aud making roads in all parts of the district. He was for many years the leading member of the firm of Barton Bros., bridge contractors, and many of their bridges are still in use, serving as monuments to the firm’s sterling workmanship. In more recent years MiBarton was employed in supervising tho construction of bridges under the Public Works Department. He married in 1918 Miss Ada Green and much sympathy has been extended to the widow and to Mr Barton’s sisters and brothers—Airs H. Reeves (Bienhfim). Airs 0. Anderson (Blenheim), and Messrs John Barton (Leefield), Albert Barton (Onamalutu), Fred Barton (Tinline), Alf. Barton (West Coast) and Stanley Barton (Pelorus Valley).

Lieut. R. S. Judson, V.C., D.C.M., M.M., N.Z.S.C., area officer of the Auckland regimental district, is to be adjutant of the Ist Battalion Taranaki Regiment and area officer of No. 8a regimental district, New Plymouth, in place of Captain G. 11. Dykes, Lancashire Fusiliers, who has returned, to India.

Captain L. V. Andrew, V.C., previously of New Plymouth, and Captain A. VV. Greville have returned from India. Captain Andrew has been posted as Adjutant to the First Battalion, Wellingtoii Regiment, and Captain Greville will go to Palmerston North. Lieutenant A. H. Sugden, who for tho past two years lias been -attached to the British Army in India, lias also returned. Lieutenant Sugden was previously stationed in Christchurch, and will take up the position as Area Officer at Dunedin on 23rd October. Mr F. Stewart Reed, of the Advertising Department of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, Akron, Ohio, U.S.A., who has been visiting New Zealand for the past two months, left last Friday by the Maheno for Australia. Mr Reed was accompanied by Airs Reed and their son.