OTOROHANGA NEWS

Waipa Post, Volume 41, Issue 3186, 9 August 1930, Page 5

OTOROHANGA NEWS

TOPICS OF THE MOMENT. WEDDING BELLS. (Our Resident Representative.) A quiet" wedding cereinoney, of local and district interest, was celebrated at the Presbyterian Church Otorohanga on Thursday, the Rev. W. Butterworth, of Te Awamutu, officiating. The contracting parties Mr Harry MacFarlane, a prominent settler of the Tahaia district, and Miss Harriet Evelyn Nicoll, of the Te Raumaukii Road, Honikiwi. The future home of the young couple will be at Tahaia, where Mr MacFarlane owns an attractive holding. Several Otorohanga residents who were overnight guests at the Grand Hotel (Te Kuiti) on Thursday evening, had some difficulty in getting clear of the burning building, with their effects..

" Sister Rita, of the local Methodist Church, assisted by the Rev. Grindlay, conducted a " Noah's Ark " evening, at the Native School, on the Mangarino Road, when games and competitions were the order of a comprehensive programme. This school is being used for efficiently training young Maori girls for domestic and other callings, besides the usual educational activities. Endeavours are being made to establish similar institutions in various centres of Maori population throughout this territory. The adjourned inquest, regarding the tragic death, last Saturday, of'the Mr George Gadsby, was completed at the local courthouse yesterday, when a verdict of accidental death was returned, no blame being attachable to anyone. Constable G. H. Fry conducted the proceedings for the police. An unusually small yarding of good conditioned young pigs met with a ready sale at yesterday's town auctions. The bulk of the yarding were medium stores and these were keenly competed for at up to 32s 6d per head. The whole yarding was cleared lander the hammer.

Mr Alexander Farmer, an influential settler of Marahine (near Otorohanga) died here on Thursday at the age of 81 years. Mr Farmer had acquired an extensive property in its virgin state, some three miles from Otorohanga, in the earlier days of white settlement and converted the property into one of the finest holdings in the King Country. Upon the death of his wife, a few years ago, he retired from active farming, and teased the property. A few months ago his health failed, but he was about town ten days ago, transacting business. He is survived by one daughter, Mrs Swainton, of Maihiihi, and four grown-up sons, one of whom, Gordon, is in business at Otorohanga. The late Mr Farmer was recognised as an expert farmer and stock breeder and was held in general esteem. Mrs Barton (Whatahoehoe), a popular half-caste of Otorohanga, passed away at the Gate Pa (Otorohanga) yesterday morning, after a short illness, at the early age of 24 years. Deceased farmed with her husband, m the Waingaro district, and was a daughter of the late Maata Manawa : and a grandaughter of Mrs and the late Mr J. W. Ellis, of Hamilton. A largely attended tangi is now being held, at which natives from the various tribes of the Waikato and King Country are assisting.