A LOSS THAT GROWS WITH TIME.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 808, 5 February 1910, Page 3

A LOSS THAT GROWS WITH TIME.

Last Wednesday we received the following letter from one of New Plymouth’s octogenarians : Gill St- New Plymouth, ist February, 1910. To the Editor ot the Foxton Herai,d.

Dear Sir. —It may be in your recollection my writing about old identities in New Plymouth, and by sending an obituary notice of the late Mr Veale. I have now the moruful task of telling you of the demise of another our old respected settlers that I quoted in my letter having recently gone to his rest, namely Edwarii Okey at the age of 83. No doubt the “reaper” has been busy In your neighbourhood, and old faces once familiar to every one, are now laid silently in the dust. Time is drawing on when the writer of this will be the subject of discourse by some other correspondent of your interesting paper whose age is now upwards of 88. I trust I may b,e as well fitted to meet the last call as those I have mentioned. —I am, etc., Robt. Hughes.

The above letter written in a clear and bold hand by one of the Dominion’s sterling old pioneers at the ripe age of 8S years, starts the mind off in a sentimental grove. How many' of the early pioneers are left i;o us ?. ' A mere haudfnr in each province, dp t;hem tire stirring tymeg cy the .are *9. ipre Qur , readers' will, we feel sure, heartily wish opt esteemed correspondent many years of health and happiness and in cricket parlance umj he continue his innings to the century, before the grim but cer- , tain bowler scatters the stumps. Anyhow we hope at present that he is on a good wicket. The Manawatu possesses a few old identities nearing the border ; laud by whom the aboce letter will b,e read with pleasure. Hokitika, Feb. 3. The death of Mr W. H. Ingram, an old resident of Hokitika, occurred suddenly to-night. While having h<s dinner Mr Ingram suddenly collapsed, and shortly afterwards expired. Pegegsed was an old pipueer, pud jeweller by trade. He was seventy-four years of age.