PERSONAL

Taranaki Daily News, 6 August 1930, Page 11

PERSONAL

Flying-Officer lan Keith has returned to New Plymouth from Auckland. .■ Owing te the indisposition of Judge Brown, who recently met with an accident, the sitting of the Native Land Court' to have been commenced in New Plymouth yesterday was adjourned till. Tuesday.

Guests at the Imperial,® New Plymouth, include Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Gilberd, Mr. J. Coull. (Wanganui), Messrs. J. D. Mason (Sydney), J. Forsyth (Palmerston North), C. Stephenson (Wellington), W. Kearney (Palmerston North), E. Everett (Wanganui), Salon Bros. (Sydney), P. N. White (Wellington), H. C. Weir (Auckland) and A. Wallace (Auckland). Guests at the Criterion, New Plymouth, are Mr. and Mrs. B. Edwards, Wellington, Mr. and Mrs. R. Brownlie, Napier, Mr. and Mrs. French, Wairoa, Mr. G. R. Dansey, Gisborne, Mr. J. Barnett, Christchurch, Mr. H. Brjnsden, Auckland, Mr. E. A. Shrimpton, Wellington, and Mr. L. S. Gandy, Wellington.

The death has occurred unexpectedly while on a visit to Wellington of Mr. William Chowen, of Palmerston North, at the age of 72 years. Mr. Chowen was born in England and came to New Zealand as a boy. He farmed at Marton, Raumai, Okato and Te Roti (Taranaki) and Colyton. In 1919 he moved to Aokautere, six miles from Palmerston North, where he resided until , 1925, when he went to reside in Palmerston North. He was a prominent member of the Cuba Street Methodist Church.

An arrival at Wellington by the Ulimaroa from Sydney yesterday was Sir Hugh P. Allen, president of the Royal College of Music, London, and a member of the Associated Board of the R.A.M. and R.C.M., states a Press Association message. He is orf his way back to England -after a visit to Australia, but will not be leaving the Dominion until Tuesday next. In the meantime he will pay a flying visit to Auckland. .Ha will return to Wellington at the weekend, and from then until his departure will be the guest' of their Excellencies at Government House,

The death occurred at the New Plymouth hospital on Saturday of Mr. Eric John Ekdahl, a respected farmer; of Okoke. Mr. Ekdahl was only 30 years of age, and leaves a widow and four young children. The funeral took place at the Waitara cemetery on Monday, Archdeacon G. Hi' Gavin officiating at the graveside. Arch-Druid Bro. M. Sampson read the Druids’ oration. The pallbearers werj Messrs. G. Mellar, D. Purdie, J. Whittaker, L. Sampson, L. Andrews, M. Sampson, members of the Druids’ Lodge, of which Mr. Ekdahl was a member. _

The death occurred at a private hospital in Auckland on Monday of Mr. , .Reuben Robinson, aged 92, formerly a resident of Hawera, Taranaki. Born in 1838, Mr. Robinson went to. sea with an uncle at the age of 14 and. had.au adventurous eight years in sailing ships. On one occasion the ship he was on became ice-bound in the White Sea. An exciting incident occurred during' the Crimean War, wheii his ! ship,'ladeii with cotton and tobacco, was'fired upon’ by. a warship, but .was able f to’' sail: out of danger. Arriving at Nelson' in 18G2 he experienced the lure of the gold diggings, and for a time:..engaged in .prospecting in Marlborough and Nelson. Afterwards lie became a carpenter' and settled at Hawera, where hp* took up contracting. A serious' injury compelled Mr. Robinson to give up heavy work, and he then became caretaker of the Hawera Bowling Club. In 1904 he paid a visit to England and later returned to Hawera, where he resumed his position with the Bowling Chib. Mrs, Robinson died about six years ago, and latterly Mr. Robinson has been residing with a married daughter at Leslie Avenue, Mount Albert. In his old age Mr. Robinson retained a remarkable degree of physical and mental activity, and he had his last game of bowls about five years ago. He is survived by three daughters.