The Late Mr Forties.

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 317, 21 June 1907, Page 2

The Late Mr Forties.

Mr Magnus Forbes was a well-known and highly respected settler, who has lived in this district for many years past, Mr Forbes was a successful farmer here and some few years ago took up land near Kawhia, which he had been in the habit of vieitwg pretty frequently. He intended permanently settling there at an early date. He was a son of Mr John Forbes, senior, of Normauby, and leivee a wife and young family to mourn his untimely end. Deceased was a man of sterling character, a strong man and typical settler, one of those wb> nave the grit and determination to go back into the interior and carve out a home.—Hawera Star.

THE WRECKED VESSEL.

The wrecked steamer was built at Glasgow in 1897 for the McGregor St amsbtp Co . of- Aucklai. l, uu<l she came out to the colony nailer sail, Captain Roberts now of the s s. Rothesay, Kawhia, being in command. She made n very long passage, being some six months at sea, when her arrival hore put an end to any uneasiness that was beginning to be folton her behalf. Tho steamer was overhauled here, and then entered the gulf trade, but was shortly afterwards withdrawn and placed in th' I’aeroa trade in opposition to the Northern Co Some months later the Kia Ora was purchased by the U.S.S. Co., and, after making ii few trips on tho East Coast, was sent o fas mania for tho Hobart-Strahan trade. She then w.-nt to Fiji to run a mail service be ween the islands of the group. The sGHa.ner p >t in about twelve months or so iu rhe islands, and then rhe Union Co withdrew from the running, the Kisi Ora being brought) buck to Auckland where aho again

changed hands, teina this time taken over by the N.S 8. Co. The Kia Ora wm overhauled at considerable expense, and her passenger accomodation was greatly increased by the enlarging of the ’saloon. She then replaced the Kaxtieri in the Onehuuga E .glaa, Kawhia and Waitara trade, and h»A been employed on the West Coast ever since. The Kia Ora was au iron vessel of 307 tona register. According to the custom generally followed by shipping companies, tho Kia Ora waa insured in a fund set aside by the Northern (Jo. for this purpose, REPLACING THE KIA ORA. Although nothing has yet been defiaately fixed,, the Northern S.S. Co. intend replacing the Kia Ora with a suitable steamer as soon as possible. It ie understood that tbe company qfj negotiating for the purchase of tbe s.r. Claymore, which was recently bought by the Parker-Limb Timber Company, of Auckland. PULPIT REFERENCES. At the Congregational Church on Sunday evening, the Ker. C. E. Davidson in referring to the wreck of tho Kia Or k, said bow helpless om felt on such an occasion. Although 30 near to tho scone of the wreck, however willing uud anxious to help, we could only wait and hunger for the news that came bo slowly, but there was one outlet for our energies and one source of bolp that ail Christians would not be slow to avail themselves of, viz.. Prayer. “ Et--mal Father, strong to mw, Whose arm doth bind tbe rextles.. wave, Who bid’st the mighty ocean deep It* own eternal limite..kcep, Oh, hear un when wo ay to Thee For those in peril ou the sea.” We were thankful for kind hearts, will-; iug hands and opeix doors; for those who hurried to the sxnc of the disaster to do all they could to mitigate the hardships of of the rescued, Such scenes as these tender to foste', develop, aud draw out the Divine in humanity. Whilst our hearts were sad we were still proud of those who did their duty and stuck manfully at tbeir posts, and some of them died doing what they could to save the liyes of tbosa entrusted to their cars. Our hearts went out in symyathy - and prayer nn behalf of the suffering »urviyora. We may not be able to explain why in the Providence of God such calamities aro allowed to take place, but believing as we do that all life is educational and that we are in the preparatory class here,iu the words of Moses iu the 90th Psalm we would say, “So teach us to number our days that we may get us a heart of wisdom” and so learn the lessons He would teach us and devise the best means we know to pre vent like occurrences in the future, aud so livo individually that we may be “ Prepared to meet our God.” Appropriate prayers were offered and suitable hymns sung during the service.