SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Waipa Post, Volume 50, Issue 3636, 1 July 1935, Page 4

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Advice has been received in Te Awamutu that Mr R. Girling-Butcher, Government Inspector, will inspect th?. local Fire Brigade to-morrow evening. He will be accompanied by Superintendent Wool ley, of the Wellington Fire Brigade.

Rev. Father Hoogveld, formerly of Kihikihi, was a visitor to Te Awamutu and district during the week end.

The death occurred in Hamilton last Friday of Mrs Emma Maude Ranby, aged 69 years.. Mrs Ranby was a daughter of the late Mr and Mrs William Wilton, pioneer settlers of Wellington, who arrived in the Dominion in 1841. In 1885 she married Mr J. W Ranby, and they resided for a time at Mauriceville, and near Pahiatua. About 28 years ago Mr Ranby took up land at Ohaupo, but four years later he lost his sight in an accident, and went with Mrs Ranby to live in Hamilton. For many years Mrs Ranby was an active worker for the St. Andrew's Church, Claudelands. She is survived by her husband and 10 children, several of whom arc resident in and around Ohaupo.

The death occurred in Hamilton on Friday last of Mrs Caroline Wallace, a former resident of the Te Awamutu district, aged 86 years. Mrs Wallace was the daughter of the late Mr and Mrs W. Chitham, and was born in Auckland. She was taken to Te Awamutu by her parents when she was a child, her father being one of the first white traders to deal with the Maoris in the district, and lie also built the present St. John's Anglican Church. When Mrs Wallace was ten years of age she was sent to Auckland for safety owing to the hostility of the Maoris. She was married 68 years ago to Mr James Wallace, who is still living at the age of 89 years. Mr and Mrs Wallace occupied a farm at Omata, Taranaki, for 30 years, and for a number of years they lived in retirement in New Plymouth. They came to the Waikato to live a year ago. There are 10 children, 37 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

Many old friends in Te Awamutu and district, will learn with regret of the death of Dr George J. Hall, who practised at Te Awamutu from about 1913 until 1929, when he retired and went to reside in Sydney. His widow cabled to friends here on Saturday that the doctor had passed away the previous day. Dr Hall was a fine type of medico, a gentleman of high at' tainmonts and equally high ethics in his profession, and it. was only his own indifferent health that hampered him rising even higher in his profession. During the influenza epidemic that ravaged the Dominion towards the end of 1918 Dr Hall was literally a tower of strength to those so actively engaged here in combatting the outbreak and also to those who unfortunately suffered from the disease. He never spared himself in his efforts to restore the health of the stricken, to maintain the necessary bright outlook of the workers, and to succour the bereaved. Indeed, Dr Hall's name will long be remembered for his splendid work here in that emergency. For the past, two years or so his own health was so bad that he was practically confined to his bed, and thus his death did not come unexpectedly.

During the progress of the children's fancy dress ball at the Town Hall on Friday evening, Rev. Father O'Flynn took the opportunity to express, on behalf of the Sisters of the Convent, sincere thanks to his Worship the Mayor, the judges, and all who had assited to make the function a success. He extended cordial felicitation and congratulations especially to Mr Spinley upon his recent election to the honourable office of chief magistrate and first, citizen of the borough, and remarked that in the Convent school pupils are taught love of their country, to respect and obey the laws of New Zealand, and to be good citizens, so that, in later life, they would be at all times respecters of law and order, and be worthily equipped to take their part in the government of the country's affairs when called upon. The speaker went on to say that the Mayor's attendance that evening was a gesture of goodwill towards the Convent, and that action was very much appreciated. He also paid a warm compliment to Miss Spinley, the Mayoress. Mr Spinley, acknowledging the good wishes so nicely expressed, congratulated the Convent Sisters upon their efficiency in training the children along sound lines, and remarked that the children that evening had comported themselves with credit to their parents, their teachers and themselves.