PERSONAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2559, 24 March 1923, Page 2

PERSONAL.

The friends of Mr Carmine will regret to hear that he has been confined to his room with a severe attack of quinsey. Mi; Townsend, of the Te Aro (Wellington) branch of the Bank of N.Z. has been transferred to the local branch and took up his duties this week.

Mr and Mrs C. Ci’onquest and their little son are leaving New Zealand next week for Niue Island (in the Cook group) whei’e Mr Cronquest will take charge of the trading business of Mrs Cranquest’s uncle, Mr Head. Mr and Mi's Cronquest’s many Foxton friends will wish them prosperity and happiness in their new and somewhat isolated home. Mr Cron quest informed our representative that the Government intend at an early date to run a monthly service to the islands. At present (here is communication with the Islands by sailing vessel which lakes about ten days whereas the steamer service will reduce the time bv half.

Visitors to Foxton yesterday were Mr .J. E. Mud to rd and his son, Mill. Mudford, of Dargaville. Mr Mudford senr., was one of the first settlers in the Douglas Block, Bongotea district, about 40 odd years ago. In conversation with our representative he contrasted the trials of the early settlers with the conditions existing to-day. Mr Mudford also engaged in the flaxmilling industry in this district. “The highest price I received for hemp in those days was £2O 5/- a ton. I paid from 1/to 1/6 per ton royalty and the green (lax landed at the mill cost about 7/0 per ton. The wages paid in those days to employees was 20/per week. I have just met a man." continued Mr Mudford, “who worked for me as a boy at 10/- per week ten hours a day—and be says be reckoned be was a made man at the wages !” Mr Mudford says the progress of the district is most marked. In touring round the district, Mr Mudford noticed large areas, once covered by drifting sand, now converted into rich pasture land. Mr Mudford is now farming at Mangawhare, Dargaville.