OBITUARY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19998, 25 July 1939, Page 2

OBITUARY

MR. R. B. P. SMITH Mr. Richard Ballantyne Philbrich Smith,-- a prominent sheepfarmer of the Akitio district, died last week in the Te Puia Springs Hospital, where he underwent an operation from which he failed to recover. When he was taken ill he was visiting a property in the Tokomaru Bay district in which he had an interest. For many years Mr. Smith was in partnership with Mr. Herbert Humphries, Napier, in the well-known Mariananga station, which about a year ago was divided between the partners. Mr. Smith was a well-known breeder of Aberdeen Angus cattle, and his stud included some of the finest strains of the breed. He leaves a wife and grown-up family. MRS A. M. BARKER The death of Mrs. Anne M. Barker, Apiti, at the age of 82, removes another link with Wellington’s very early days. She had lived in the Feilding and Apiti districts for more than 50 years.

A granddaughter of Mr. William Jabez Hall, who arrived at Port Nicholson in the -ship London in 1842, and Mr. George Hill, who arrived in the Arab the previous year, Mrs. Barker wa.s born in Lower Hull in October, 1857, and was the eldest daughter of a large family. Mrs. Barker was twice married, her first husband being Mr. James Baxter Edelston, a member of a Nelson ■family. The newly-married couple went .to live in Feilding, which was then just a clearing in the bush. Her husband was killed in an accident in 188 G, leaving her with two children. She then lived for a few years in Gisborne, and .returned to Feilding. Her second marriage, to Mr. William Bomber Barker, took place in Feilding Ln April, 1890. There were two children of this marriage. Following the death of her husband in 1915. Mrs. Barker went to live with her youngest daughter in Apili. She is survived by her four children. Mr. J. S. Edelston, Feeding. Mrs. M. Ilaswell, Waipukurau, Mr. A. G. Barker, Leeston, Canterbury, and Mrs. John Jensen, Apiti. MRS. A. M. SHACKLEFORD A Dunedin message records the death of Mrs. A. M. Shackleford, a 'oundation member of the Otago branch of the New Zealand Trained Nurses’ Association, and who as an early member of the council did much, to influence others in the ethical side of the profession. She was also a familiar figure at the Otago Women’s Club, of which she was also « Joundaf ion mem her.