PERSONAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 December 1943, Page 2

PERSONAL

The death has occurred at Hopelands of a well known resident in the person of Mr John Oxenham, at the age of 55 years. Misses V. Cairns and R. Fawcett, of Masterton, are visiting the South Island, where they are the guests of Mrs W. Chatterton, “The Willows,” Dunsandal. The engagement is announced of Constance Ysabel, second daughter of Mr and Mrs C. N. Stilburn, “Waimaui,” South Road, Masterton, to Logan Earnest, third son of Mr and Mrs F. O. Bruce, “Wharehinu,” Gisborne. The engagement is announced of Betty Rubina, third daughter of Mr and Mrs J. C. Garrity, Dyerville, to Edward Walter Lett, of Gisborne, youngest son of Mr and Mrs E. H. Lett, of Dawson Street, Pahiatua. Two officers of the Royal Australian Air Force, Group Captain F. W. Thomas and Squadron Leader L. R. Dawson, have been decorated with the insignia of Commanders of the Dutch orders of Orange and Nassau for services in rebuilding the Netherlands East Indies Air Force, a British Official Wireless message states. The death occurred at Wellington on Monday of Miss Florence E. Marchant, eldest daughter of the late Mr Nicholas Marchant, C.E. (who was city surveyor for Wellington in the last century). Miss Marchant was one of the first pupils of the Wellington Girls’ College and will be remembered by the older! parishioners of St. Mark’s Church, as j she was an active worker when the! Rev. R. Coffey was vicar of the parish.■ Mr W. C. Hyde, horticulturist of the. Department of Agriculture, is to re-j tire from that position at the end of! this month. Born in Dorset, England.: Mr Hyde came to New Zealand in 1897, joining the firm of A. B. Buxton, Ltd., nurserymen, Canterbury. In 1908 he went to Hawke’s Bay with the firm of Thomas Horton, Ltd., and in 1911 he joined the Department of Agriculture. After five years in Wanganui, he went to Nelson, remaining there as orchard, instructor till in 1924 he was appointed horticulturist and transferred to head office, Wellington.

The death has occurred of William Robert Coe, Kamo, aged 92. He formerly lived in the Wairarapa. at Pahiatua and Pongaroa. Born in London, Mr Coe came to New Zealand in the sailing ship Ellen Dennie 70 years ago. He acquired land in the Wairarapa district, where he farmed for several years. Latei’ he started a carrying business in Pahiatua and for a considerable period owned a store in Pongaroa, being one of the first settlers of the district. In 1911 he went north and farmed at Parua Bay for many years, afterward moving to Hukerenui. At the time of his death he had been living with his daughter at Kamo (134 miles north of ■ Auckland) for two years. Of a family oi 13 children 11 survive.