MR. J. SWEENEY DEAD

Taranaki Daily News, 15 April 1935, Page 8

MR. J. SWEENEY DEAD

OLD RESIDENT OF DISTRICT.

WAS AT TURUTURU-MOKAI. Mr. James Sweeney, aged 85, for 58 years a farmer on Ohangai Road, Tawhiti, has died. He. was one of the oldest settlers of South Taranaki. Mr. Sweeney arrived in New Zealand in the ’sixties and took up a farm with his brother Patrick. This was just after General Chute’s triumphant march through the district, and the country was still unsettled. Mr. Sweeney was present at the Hau Hau attack on the Turu-turu-Mokai redoubt on July 12, 1868, but he was reticent as to the circumstances. Mr. Sweeney seldom failed to respond to appeals for charitable and religious purposes. He was a bachelor, and latterly had lived with a neighbour, Mr. M. MacKenzie, who had leased the balance of his farm. At one time Mr. Sweeney and his brother owned practically all the land between Ngatiki and Keteonetea, but the bulk was disposed of before the boom period. Mr. Sweeney, who was born in Leitrim, Ireland, left no immediate relatives, but a son of his sister, the late Mrs. J. Stevenson, Pihama, lives at Normanby. In the early days Mr. Sweeney was a member of Hawera’s first cavalry contingent, the Hawera Light Horse. The funeral was held yesterday. DEATH OF AUROA FARMER. SUFFERED HEART TROUBLE. The death of Mr. A. E. Evans, a farmer on Oeo Road, Auroa, occurred at his home late on Saturday night. He was 57 years of age. For some time past he had suffered from pains in the chest, but he had not been under medical attention. He was attacked with pain on Saturday night and succumbed before medical aid was called. An inquest was held before Mr. R. S. Sage, district coroner, yesterday, a finding being recorded in accordance with medical evidence that death was the result of natural causes, angina pectoris being the probable trouble. Dr. Gray said he considered this was the cause of death, although he had not previously attended the case. Delay in calling medical aid was considered to have accentuated the disease. MUSICAL FEAST AT PATE A. WANGANUI BAND ENTERTAINS. The Wanganui Salvation Army Band presented to a large audience an entertaining musical programme in the Salvation Army hall at Patea last week. The programme included “Wellingtonian,” march, “Joy of the Redeemed,” selection, “Cleansing Flow,” selection, “Going By,” variety. Deputy-Bandmas-ter B. M. Pike gave a cornet solo, “Deliver.” The band was welcomed by Captain Campbell, who remarked that the band had voluntarily come forward to assist the Patea corps. He particularly welcomed Major Hawken, who had arrived to take up his new appointment at Wanganui the previous day. Other items in the programme indued vocal solos- by Sister Mi's. Zinsli and Deputy-Bandmaster Pike, instrumental solos by Bandsman Davis and Bandsman B. Zinsli. The Bing Boys gave a humorous number and Sister M. Canty gave two recitations. Duets were sung by Sister Mrs. Zinsli and Deputy-Bandmaster Pike, who were associated with Sister and Bandmaster Francis in a vocal quartette. PERSONAL ITEMS. Mr. and Mrs. D. Foreman, Waitoi, are staying with Mr. and Mrs. W. Foreman. Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Seed are spending a holiday in the Auckland district. Sister Atawhai Wilcox, Okaiawa, left on Friday on a holiday visit to relatives at Kawakawa, Mr. R. Hatcher, Hawera, is visiting Auckland. Sympathy with Mr. George Tozer in the loss of his father was expressed at the’ Hawera Methodist Church annual meeting. Appreciation of the services of Miss T. King, a member of the office staff of the South Taranaki Electric Power Board, who is shortly to be married, was expressed by members when her resignation was before the board on Friday night. It was decided to accept her resignation with regret, granting her two weeks’ leave of absence on full pay at the termination of her services. ADVERTISERS’ ANNOUNCEMENTS. The attention of dance secretaries is drawn to a Royal Jubilee dance to be held in the Rewa Rooms, High Street, Hawera, on Monday, May 6. The Hawera Methodist choir will present Maunder’s beautiful cantata “Olivet to Calvary” in the Methodist Church, Regent Street, Hawera, this evening at 8. The soloists are Mr. Richard Maunder (tenor) ana Mr. Cyril Roberts (bass). The organist is Mr. Gilmore McConnell, and Mr. H. C. A. Fox will conduct the choir of 45 voices. A cordial invitation is extended to everybody. A collection will be taken.

The offices of the South Taranaki Electric Power Board will be closed from April 19 to 25 inclusive for the Easter holidays. The discount on any account becoming due for payment within that period will be allowed if the account is paid on April 26,