PERSONAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19865, 13 June 1927, Page 6

PERSONAL

MINISTERIAL. The Hon. O. J. Hawken, Minister of Agriculture, arrived in Wanganui during the week-end. He is at Foster’s Hotel. Dr. A. J. Crawford has returned from Wellington. Mr F. W. Furkert chief engineer to the Public Works Department, visited AVanganui during the week-end. Overseas guests at Foster’s Hotel include Mr F. C. Wills (Herts, England), ani'J, Mr H. G. Hunter (New York). A London cablegram announces the death of Lord Swaythling, head of the banking firm of Samuel Montague and Company, aged 58, and of William Attcwcll the Notts cricketer, aged 66. Mr A. J. McEldowney, secretary of the Wanganui Y.M.C.A., who leaves shortly for Christchurch, was on Saturday evening farcwelled by the junior members of the city organisation. At Foster’s Hotel are Messrs C. O. Bruce Smith, AV. Fryat (Melbourne), Mr A. H. Jones, Mr and Mrs G. R. Maule (Auckland*), Messrs D. O. Whyte, A. Barrow, G. R. Oliver, A. Menzies, P. J. Slater, Mr and Mrs Martin, Mrs and Miss Austin (AVellington), Mr T. H. Black (New Plymouth and Mrs B. Ellery (Napier). Arrivals at the Rutland Hotel during the week end were Mr William Austin (Kaukapakapa), Miss J. D. Dobie, Messrs W. B. Watson, AV. Allen, AV. Barr, G. H. Menzies, E. B. Froudc, Mr and Mrs C. H. Mitchell, Mr and Mrs Garrad, Miss Watts (Wellington), Messrs H. N. AVarncr, J. D. Arthur (Auckland) ,Miss Kerby (Hawera), Mr H. Sinclair, Mrs Blandfond; (Palmerston North), and Mrs G. McGregor

The late Mrs Robert Wilson, formerly of Heaton Park, Marton, whose death occurred at Sydney last week was one of the oldest pioneers of New Zealand and was closely associated with the early days of AVellington and Rangitikei. She was born in Edinburgh and came to New Zealand with her parents when three years of age. landing in Wellington in the early fifties. The deceased lady (who was a daughter of the late Rev. John Moir, who was sent out from Scotland to take charge of what is now St. John’s Presbyterian •Church, AVellington), after her marriage, lived at “Plains House,” Turakina for some years until the Heaton Park homestead was built. It was during that time that a raid was feared from the Maoris, who were making war along the coast. Various redoubts were built for the protection of the women and children ajid it was on one of those occasions when the Maoris were thought to be close at hand that parties were sent out to bring th? women in. The deceased lady stoutly refused to leave her home, stating that the friendly natives who lived just over the stream would be sufficient protection for herself and young children. Mrs Wilson is survived by the following children: Mr James AVilson (Marton), Mr AV. H. Wilson (London, England), Mrs Harrison (Auckland), Mrs Lillicrap (Invercargill), Mrs J. Y. Crawford (Pahiatua), Mrs Plumer-Jones (Auckland) and Miss Jossic AVilson (Sydney).