DEATH OF T. HARRY PENN

Taranaki Daily News, 27 September 1933, Page 8

DEATH OF T. HARRY PENN

ONE OF STRATFORD’S PIONEERS.

CONNECTION WITH EARLY LIFE. A life of service to the Stratford community was ended with the peaceful death early yesterday morning of Mr. T. Harry Penn at his Hamlet Street residence at the age of 78. Mr. Penn had been closely associated with the affairs of Stratford since the founding of the town.

Mr. Penn was a native of Worcestershire, England, and after a short trip to the Orient reached Wellington in December, 1881. The family travelled to Taranaki immediately and arrived at Stratford on New Year’s Day, 1882. There was only a small area of the township cleared then and the family purchased an uncleared area of 30 acres near Mr. Penn’s present Hamlet Street residence. This was added after hard labour to the cultivated area, and Mr. Penn senr. and his family built themselves a home. Before the 20th century Mr. Harry Penn had laid the foundations for the professional career for which he had been educated, and was secretary of the Lowgarth, Ngaire and Cardiff dairy companies, positions he has held ever since. In addition Mr. Penn was for a period clerk, to the Stratford Town Board and secretary to the school committee, and then succeeded Mr. H. N. Liardet as secretary to the Stratford Hospital Board in September, 1908, 25 years ago. The commencement of the through service on the Stratford-Main Trunk railway marked the culmination of a work which had gained much in conception and advancement from the enthusiasm of Mr. Penn and others. Mr. Fenn was a proud witness of the arrival at 5 a.m. on September 4 of the first express from Auckland. Mr. Penn was not an ostentatious man but his character was firmly fixed and was a gentlemanly one. Mr. Penn could well be described as a grand old pioneer, and his youth of spirit, his geniality and his serenity of spirit remained with him till his quiet departure. Mr. Penn, who was a governor of Christ’s Hospital School, London, is survived by Mrs. Penn, whom he married 37 years ago, and a son and a daughter, Mr. Tom Penn and Miss Hope Penn. There are three brothers, Messrs. C. Penn (Stratford), W- J. Penn (New Plymouth) and A. V. Penn (Auckland). The funeral will take place at Kopuatama cemetery to-morrow after a service at Holy Trinity Church, the cortege leaving the house at 2 o’clock. At its annual meeting at New Plymouth last night the Taranaki creamery, cheese and butter factories Dairy Employees’ Industrial Union of Workers passed a vote of condolence with the relatives of the late Mr. Penn, who was secretary to the Taranaki Dairy Factory Employers’ Union.

ADVERTISERS’ ANNOUNCEMENTS.

The annual ball of the Taranaki Scottish Society, which is to be held at Stratford to-morrow night, has gained a reputation for providing hearty enjoyment and good cheer in true Scots fashion. The chief, committee and secretary always make the occasion one to be remembered. The society’s injunction to the dancing public and those of Scottish extraction in the Stratford district is contained in the motto on the badge, “Dinna Forget.” The anniversary of the opening of the Cardiff Hall will be celebrated by a ball to be held in the hall next Tuesday. The music will be provided by a good orchestra and a free bus will run from Stratford.