EKETAHUNA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 April 1943, Page 5

EKETAHUNA

SOLDIER HONOURED ENJOYABLE GATHERING. (“Times-Age” Special.) The Odd Fellows’ Hall was crowded on Monday night, when Lance Bombardier Bob Hornblow was entertained by the citizens of Eketahuna. Before joining the army he was on the staff of the Bank of New South Wales, and was a very popular officer. Dr. E. M. Simmers (Deputy-Mayor) asked Lance Bombardier Hornblow to accept a well-filled wallet on behalf of the citizens of Eketahuna. He said that the recipient was following in the footsteps of his father, who was an old soldier and had served in the Great War. Miss M. Anderson, president of the Borough Ladies’ Soldiers’ Comforts Committee, presented a parcel of woollen comforts to Lance Bombardier Hornblow, and to his mother a posy of autumn-tinted flowers, maidenhair fern and bronze leaves. Mrs W. Olsen, Mayoress, handed cigarettes to all the visiting service men. The music was supplied by Miss Muriel Smith (piano), Mr Keith Marenzi (piano accordeon), Mr A. Rowden (saxophone), and Mr B. Thompson (bass violin). Mr H. R. Rogers acted as M.C. A Monte Carlo dance was won by Miss Ruth Nielsen and Mr Kerry Ryan. Supper was served in their usual efficient maner by the Borough Ladies’ Comforts Committee.

The Late Mr Robbie. Mr Charles Edward Robbie, of j “Otapawa,” Haunui, who died recently, was born at Riverside Farm, Papanui, Christchurch, in 1878. He was the eighth child of the late Mr and Mrs James Robbie, pioneer settlers of Canterbury, who arrived, from Scotland in the early 60’s. In 1890 the family moved to .Bunnythorpe where they settled on the farm known as “Graigevar.” At the age of 19, Mr Robbie took up a bush section at Puketoi Road in the locality now called Haunui, being the first settler there. The nearest post office, was 25 miles away. In 1902 Mr Robbie married Miss Anne McLauchlan ,of Greymouth, then a schoolteacher at Pongaroa. Possessing a kindly nature, the late Mr Robbie was highly respected and his death will be re-1 gretted by a wide circle of friends. He was one of the first to volunteer for the Tiraumea Platoon of the Home Guard and it is worthy of note that he had missed only one parade (through illness) since its inception. The funeral took place at Eketahuna where there was a large and representative gathering. The pall-bearers were Messrs J. Olsen, R. J. Harman Senr., J. H. Jewitt, G. Houlbrooke, H. Higginson and N. Robbie. Mr Robbie is survived by his widow, one son (Mr Malcolm Robbie), a j daughter (Mrs Nelson Richardson), and seven grandchildren. Mrs J. Moody, Tokomaru, is a sister, and Mr F. H. Robbie, North Auckland, is a brother.

Personal Items. Aircraftman and Mrs Colin Ramsay have been the guests of Mr and Mrs A. Ramsay. Stanley Street. Mrs H. Atkin, Khandallah, is the guest of Mr and Mrs W. Olsen, Newman Road.