PERSONAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 July 1916, Page 4

PERSONAL.

A Sydney cablegram reports tlie death of Mr* William Joseph Triekett, who for DO years was a member of the Legislative Council. A Ilawera message stales that Mr. James Davidson, one of the early settlers of the Dominion, died this morning, aged SO. He led a busy public life for many years and was the first chairman of the Haw era Town Board in 1575. Mr. William R. T. Davey, of Nelson, was presented at a parade of the National Deserve recently with a Maori War medal. Mr. Davey saw service in the Now Zealand Militia. during the Taranaki War, serving under the late Major Sir H. Atkinson. At the annual capping ceremony in connection with the University at Dunedin, two Taranaki young ladies had the distinction of receiving their diplomas us Bachelors of Science. One was Miss Aiken, of the New Plymouth Girls' High 'School, and the other was Miss Strack, of the Hawera District High School. Congratulation? to the young ladies on gaining the honor of B.Sc! The Ohura Advocate records the death of an old. Taranaki settlers in the person of Mr James Kodgers, who passed away after a short illness at his residence, Tatii, on Wednesday, 21st. Mr. Rodgers, who was r>~ years of age, was bom in Newcastlc-on-Tyno, England, and came to New Zealand about forty years a"o, and has spent most of his life in Taranaki. lie leaves a wife, ten sons, and. three daughters. The eldest son, Mr Charlie Kodgers, recently arrived from Australia with his wife and child. Two sons, Latham and Victor, are at the front in France, while two others, Murray and Stanley, are in camp at Trenthim. The eldest daughter, Mrs. H. Calder, resides in Stratford. Mr. Rodgers, before his death, was a Past Master of the Midhirst Masonic Lodge, and the funeral, which took place on Friday, Juno 2:J, was attended by several members of the craft. The information that Major John Whitney, of Auckland, attained his eightieth birthday on Tuesday recalls the great work accomplished by this onetime Imperial ollicer in founding the ammunition industry, both in New Zealand and Australia. Some thirty years ago Major Whitney—then Captain Whitney —started ammunition-making at Mount Eden, Auckland, in response to urgent overtures from the New Zealand Government. Difficulties that would have daunted a less courageous man were successfully overcome by Major Whitney, and in the course of a few years he had (he satisfaction of seeing the ammunition industry firmly established at Auckland and also at Melbourne, where extensive ammunition work? and metal refining mills now supply the full requirements »f the Commonwealth military forces. Thanks to these tWo important manufactories, which are now earned on by Major Whitney's eompanv—the. Colonial Ammunition Company, Ltd.—Australasia is to-day entirely independent of outside sources of supply botlcin regard to ammunition and the metal required for its manufacture. Major Whitney ■ was a noted shot in his day. At Wel- ' [iugtnn. in ISB6, firing his own ammnni- | Hon, he easily icteatod Lieutenant Vogel, isaid U> he ,Vw /calad's oest rifle shot i at that timiv and also created a world's record. Of laie Major Whitney, though still hale and ah rt, lias ceased to take the full part he did in the conduct of affairs. He now enjoys a well earned leisure in his home near Waiwern, Auckland, his son. Mr. Cecil A. Whitney, being ■■n more active command. Mr. James Davidson, of ll.iwera, apssed away yesterday morning, lie was one of the early settlers of New Zealand and a pioneer at Hawera. He was horn in the year ]S3(I in Scotland and came to New Zealand in lSfiVi. being for the first six years of his life employed in the Turakina district. In IS7I he established himself as a storekeeper at Hawera, anil successfully carried on business till 1897, when he sold out and retired to his farm near Taiporohenui, where he lias resided ever nice. .Mr Davidson was the first chairman of the Hawera Town Hoard and led a busy public life, Vtving been member of the Patea County Council, member of Ilawera Borough Council for years, Maym foi several terms, member of the Taranaki Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, member of the .Licensing Committee. Patea Harbor Board, and so on. lie was prominently associated with the Rgmont \ and P Association and the ICgmont. Racing Club in various offices, and exhibited stock and ran horses, he was a president of the Hawera branch oi the Farmers' Union and president of the Bowling Club. As long as he had strength he was a sreat. iightei in both general and local .politics (says the Star). As a staunch, unswerving supporter of (he bite Sir Hurrv Atkinson lie neither gave nor asked for quarter and if he did not actually love a fight lie never shirked one. and ahvavs seemed to enjoy annself thoroughly. Similarly in l«*Kl politics he was always pretty strenuous. It may be said of him that he served Hawera well, and should .>e remembered with gratitude, and that n private life he was a reliable and good iriend. He never married.