PIONEER SETTLER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 June 1939, Page 8

PIONEER SETTLER

MRS CHARLES WILTON. 84TH BIRTHDAY TODAY. Today is the 84th birthday of Mrs Charles Wilton, one of Masterton’s few remaining early pioneers, and Whose diamond wedding jubilee was the subject of very many congratulatory messages two years ago last November 9. Mr and Mrs Charles Wilton are at present living with Mr- and Mrs Robert Harris, of “Oaklea,” Opaki Road, Mrs Harris being a daughter. Mr Wil•ton is 86 years of age. Mrs Wilton came out as an infant 'passenger of the Westminster with her parents, the late Mr and Mrs Jacob Matthews, in 1856. Her husband arrived in the “Oriental,” on its second trip to New Zealand With 191 emigrants aboard. Sailing from Plymouth Sounds, on June 22, 1841, this ship reached Port Nicholson on November •19 of that year. Of Captain Wilson’s complement of 112 male and 79 female .passengers ,most of them were destined (as arranged for in the Homeland on booking their passages) to be •landed, later on, at New Plymouth. This “Oriental” quota helped in the •material, as Well as social, advancement of the district. It is just possible very few of the vessel’s second-trip passengers to New •Zealand are living today. Mr Wilton, would be pleased to hear news of •dhy of the survivors or any family connection, and the same applies to ■Mrs Wilton regarding “Westminster.”