PERSONAL ITEMS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 13 August 1929, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS.

The Prince of Wales 'flew to France on Friday in his small blue aeroplane, piloted by Squadron-Leader Don. He started from Hendon and landed at Be'rck. He drove immediately to Le Ouquet, where spent the week-end, staying in a small villa near the golf course.

Mr J. Moynahan, one of the oldest settlers of the l'ahiatua district, is seriouslv ill.

Mr and Mrs T. Lowry and Mr R. H. Lowry returned from Sydney by the Ma uuganu iye st erday. The health of Mr J. M. Johnston, of Palmerston North, who was seriously ill, has much improved lately. Sir Robert Baden-Powell, founder of the Boy Scouts, on whom the King has conferred a peerage, has chosen the title of Lord Baden-Powell of Gillwell. Mr G. J. Norris has been appointed secretary of the Independent Order of Rechabites, in place of Bro. C. A. Hendry, who has resigned, as he is shortly leaving the district. The Rev. H. Van Staveren, the Jewish Rabbi in Wellington, is seriously indisposed at his home on Wellington Terrace. He recently returned from Whangarei, where he contracted influenza. Reference to the death of Mr W. E. Thomson, of the teaching staff of the Wairarapa High School, was made at a meeting of the Wairarapa Secondary Education Board last'evening. The secretary (Mr 11. M. Boddington) was directed to write to Mrs Thomson, expressing the sympathy of the board and* of the school in her very great sorrow. Mr James Watson, Provincial Secretary of the Farmers’ Union, will return to-day from Wellington, where he has for the last week or two being under observation and treatment following upon the leg operation he underwent some months ago. Mr Watson’s doctor is very well satisfied with the progress his jratient 'has made towards complete recoverv.

A Hamilton Press Association message reports that the Rev. H. E. Jones, who recently tendered his resignation as Vicar of Frankton, has applied for admission to the ministry of the Presbj'terian Church. At a recent meeting of the Waikato Presbytery Mr Jones’s application was sent on to the General Assembly, with a favourable recommendation. The Assembly will meet in March. Meantime, Mr Jones will receive an appointment under the Home Mission Committee. Last evening a good attendance of the members of the Independent Order of Rechabites met in the Trades Hall to farewell Bro. C. H. ITendry who : for many years has been secretary of the Lodge. Many members spoke in appreciation of the services which Bro. Hendry had rendered to the Order, and P.CVR. Brother Masters, on behalf of the Masterton tent, presented Bro. Hendry with a leather suit ease, congratulating him upon his promotion as Public Trustee at Hastings, and wishing him every success and happiness in his new sphere. Mr Taylor, Manager of the U.F.S. Dispensary, was also present by invitation and spoke of the services rendered to him by Mr Hendry. A pleasant supper was provided by the Sisters of the Tent and a very enjoyable evening spent by all. Having arrived in New Zealand SO years ago, Mrs Agnes P. Harsant, nee Macdonald, who died at Okete, near Raglan, on Friday, was one of the Dominion’s pioneers. The deceased was the eldest daughter of the late John Macdonald. She was born in Dundee, Scotland, in 1839. Her father brought the family to New Zealand in thebarque Cornwall, of SSO tons, which arrived at New Plymouth in August, 1849. Mr Macdonald intended to settle in Otago, but was so charmed with New Plymouth that he decided to settle there. He took up land at Tataraimaka, 12 miles from New Plymouth. On the outbreak of the Maori War all the settlers were ordered into the town. The Maoris burned their house and drove away the stock. Mr Macdonald decided to bring the family to Raglan, where he settled in 1864. A few years later Miss Agnes Macdonald married Mr Martin Harsant, the eldest son of the late Dr. Harsant, who was then practising at Raglan. Mr Harsant died a few years ago. Mrs Harsant is survived by a son, Mr R. M. Harsant, of Okete; a daughter, Mrs V. E. Pegler, of Raglan; gnd six grandchildren. The youngest brother, Mr C. E. Macdonald, of Ivauroa, is the only surviving member of the family. The death occurred on Sunday of Mr Robert do Verc O’Connor, a member of the well-known Irish family, the O ‘Conors of Carrigafoyle, County Kerry, and yet one who had been closely associated with Wellington and its growth for over sixty years. The late Mr O’Conor, who was in his ninetieth year, and who died at the residence of his daughter, Mrs J. G. Hughes, at Island Bay, was born at “ Ahanagran,” Ballylongford, Kerry (Ireland), and came to New Zealand in 1863. Not long after his arrival he was successful in securing a Government appointment in the Land and Survey Department, and was concerned in the local surveys, including tfye road over the Waiwetu Hall to the Wainui Valley. Later, he was transferred to the Audit Department, and remained there until his retirement in 1894, ever since when he had been in leceipt of a pension. Mr O’Connor married Elizabeth, the eldest daughter of the late Hon. John Martin, M.L.C., who left four children —Maisie Mrs J. G. Hughes, of Island Bay), Eilleen (Mrs Eric Cameron, of Te Muna, Martinborough), John (who died in 1894), and Creagh (of Messrs Wright, Stephenson and Co.’s staff, Wellington). There are three graiul-children.