HAWERA PIONEER’S DEATH

Taranaki Daily News, 13 September 1934, Page 8

HAWERA PIONEER’S DEATH

MR. WILLIAM A’COURT PASSES ON.

60 YEARS IN SOUTH TARANAKI.

After, an illness of three weeks. Mr. William A’Court, a pioneer resident of Hawera, died yesterday morning at the age of 85, ait his home in Fairfield Road. He was a New Zealander by birth. Bom at Lower Hutt on June 9, 1850, Mr. A’Court started life as a blacksmith, and after apprenticeship, moved on to Featherston, where he married the daughter of the late Mr. John Cundy. In 1872, they moved from Featherston to Taranaki, first settling at Patea and later at Hawera. At Hawera he worked in Mr. W. William’s smithy in the centre of the small settlement, and past the site of which the present High Street runs. Mr. J. J. Patterson, Manaia, was also employed at the smithy. . Thirty years ago, Mr. A’Court retired and took up farming with his son on the Fairfield Road. He remembered the days when most of the rivers along the coast were bridgeless, with punts on ad big streams—the Waitotaraj Whenuakura and the Patea—most of the smaller ones being forded. The beach itself was used in many places for a highway by Cobb and Company’s coaches, and the old military road from the mouth -of the Tangahoe to Hawera was the .one‘followed. When he arrived at Hawera there were no churches, but the various denominations held occasional services in the blockhouse. Early settlers who neld land" in the vicinity of the towns were Messrs. W. Douglas, C. Tait,’ J. Winks, J. Stevenson, D. McL’Dowie, J. Treweek. Middlemas Bros, J. Douglas and Sweeney Bros. The last-named farmed part of the section where the Egmont Racing Club’s course is now,situated. There were two hotels, one conducted by T. Quinlivan and the other by T. Espangne. A brew'ery stood near the South Road end of Princes Street. At the time of the borough jubilee celebrations Mr. A’Court recalled many incidents of the shingle-roofed town of more than half-a-cenfury before. Mr. A’Court was an ardent supporter of the Methodist Church movement and a trustee of the Hawera cb,urch. He also toek a keen interest in the activities of the Egmont A. and P. Association, of which he was elected a life member last year in recognition of his generous assistance towards the reduction of debt on the Hawera showgrounds. Mrs. A’Court died three years ago and he is survived by three daughters—Mrs. W. Mitchell (Christchurch), Mrs. F. Beal (New Plymouth) and Mrs. J. Williams (Hamilton)—and one son—Mr. N. A’Court, Hawera. One other son died in 1904. There are two grand-daughters, Mrs. G. Harvey and Miss Norma Beal (New Plymouth). .

PERSONAL ITEMS.

There was a large and representative attendance at the 1 funeral of the late Miss Helen May Fraser, elder daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. G. Fraser, Okaiawa, on Tuesday. The pall-bearers were Messrs C. Martin, D. Crawford, M. Meuli, J. Barclay, M. C. Mclntyre and Martin. The Rev. Irvine officiated at the graveside. There was a large number of floral tributes. /

The Re'v. Father Broughton, who has been absent on sick leave, has returned to Patea.

Mr. and Mrs. J. Broughton are visiting p tea as the guests of the Rev. Father Broughton. 0-.

FILM CLASSIC OF CIRCUS.

“RED WAGON” AT OPERA HOUSE.

From the fine story by Lady Eleanor Smith of life in a large circus, 8.1. P. has in “Red Wagon” made an equally fine film. Dealing with life under the canvas, the picture cost £BO,OOO jto produce, and it was honoured with a command performance before H.R.H. the Prince of Wales. The scenes are lavish in the extreme and nothing has been spared to make the show one of th® finest turned out from British studios. The story deals with Joe Prince, an orphan, who succeeds in his desire to become the master of a circus. Charles Bickford, Greta Nissen and Racquel Torres head a splendid cast.