RAGLAN PIONEER

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21051, 1 March 1940, Page 6

RAGLAN PIONEER

50 YEARS IN DISTRICT MRS ALICE LANGLEY’S DEATH TARANAKI WAR RECALLED Born when the Taranaki war was at its height, Mrs Alice Clisby Langley, who died at her residence, Raglan, yesterday, had spent her whole life on the West Coast and over 50 years in the Raglan district. She was aged 86 years. Her husband, Mr A. R. Langley, was a prominent resident of Raglan, where he followed many callings, but was best known for his fine collection of books, particularly New Zealand publications. The late Mrs Langley was born at Bell Block, Taranaki, and was the daughter of Mr and Mrs Hanor Arden. As a baby, six weeks old, she was taken by her parents to Nelson for safety following the outbreak of hostilities between the Maoris and Europeans in Taranaki. Several of her brothers took part in the engagements and Mrs Langley could relate many incidents connected with the war. Several years later Mrs Langley returned to Taranaki. At New Plymouth she married her first husband, Dr. Phillip Moore, and they settled at Waitara. After Dr. Moore’s death, Mrs Langley married again and in 1881 went to live at Manaia, where Mr Langley conducted a store. Then they moved to Waikokowai, where they settled on a 300-acre property. Mr Langley afterwards procured a sawmill, which eventually was taken to Raglan and established on the present site of the Farmers’ Trading • Company. From tnere he moved the machinery over the Mussel Rocks to Tautarei, a feat which was considered impossible. Related To Noted Author When the rising of the Maoris occurred in the Raglan district, Mr and Mrs Langley moved to Kawhia, where Mr Langley was in charge of a store and flaxmill. However, with the spread of the hostilities Mrs Langley left Kawhia and went to New Plymouth for safety. Owing to the war conditions and the difficulty of travelling, there being no roads in the district, she was unable to return to Kawhia for a long time. In 1886, after she had reached her home, she and her husband came to ! Raglan, where Mr Langley bought a number of business premises. During the Great War Mrs Langley took an active part in patriotic work. She shared her husband’s interest in literature, her brother-in-law being Mr Edward Tregear, the noted New Zealand author and Maori historian. Another of her sisters married Captain Mace, who played a prominent part in the New Zealand wars, and another Colonel Henry Gordon, a South African War veteran. Mrs Langley’s husband predeceased her over three years ago. She is survived by one son and one daughter, Mr Eric Langley, of Whangarei, and Mrs L. M. Gordon, of Raglan. There are five grandchildren and three great-grand-children. MRS AGNES COLEMAN The death occurred yesterday of Mrs Agnes Jane Coleman, of Matangi, aged 71 years. Mrs Coleman was born at Taita, Lower Hutt. and was the daughter of Mr and Mrs J. Eaton, Wairarapa. She was married in that district to the late Mr William Coleman. For some years they lived at Stratford and then at Waverley, before coming to Matangi about 20 years ago. Two sons and two daughters survive Mrs Coleman. They are Messrs K. E. Coleman (Wairoa), W. E. Coleman (Te Rapa) and Mesdames R. D. Lee (Te Kuiti) and H. J. Lee (Hamilton). There are *en grandchildren. Mrs Coleman’s husband died in 1924.