Lodge Ruapehu, No. 2137, E.C., Marton. Officers (1896):—Messrs. F. C. Remington, W.M.; W. McGill Nutt, S.W.; J. J. McDonald, P.M.; H. C. Grônn, J.W.; C. G. Esam, P.M. (secretary); S. Gibbons, P.M. (treasurer). This Lodge, which was founded in 1885 by the Hon. F. Arkwright, M.L.C., R.W. D.G.M. of the Wellington District, has about forty financial members. The meetings are held on the Thursday nearest the full moon. A comfortable hall, which seats 120, has been erected in Wellington Road, at a cost of £200.

The Morgan Lodge of Druids, Marton, was founded in 1893 by Mr. E. R. Morgan. It has now seventy-two members, and holds meetings fortnightly in the White Hart Assembly Rooms. The officers for the second term (1896) were:—Messrs. O. Pedersen (A.D.), J. Dawbin (V.A.), J. W. Thompson (secretary), G.Duck (treasurer), S. Gibbons, T. Funston, and W. Beatson (trustees.)

Court Little John, No. 4528, A.O.F., Marton. Officers (1896):—Messrs. S. Gibbons, J. J. McDonald, and J. Anderson (trustees), A. Black (C.R.), H. Stewart (S.C.), T. F. Lound page 1316 (treasurer), and W. C. Kitney (secretary). This Lodge, which was established in 1866, holds its annual installation in June each year, and the monthly meetings take place on the Saturday nearest the full moon. It is a flourishing institution, having about 150 members.

Mr. William Charles Kitney, Secretary of Court Little John, is a native of Maidstone, Kent, England, where he was born in 1850. Brought up in his native country as a gardener, Mr. Kitney came to Wellington in 1874 by the ship “Wennington.” He entered the service of the late Sir William Fox, as gardener of his estate, “Westoe,” on the banks of the Rangitikei River, and continued in the employ of that gentleman for thirteen years. Mr. Kitney is now caretaker of the reservoir for the Marton Borough Council, and works a section of land adjoining on his own account. He has long been an enthusiastic Forester, having joined the order in England, and for over twenty years has been attached to the lodge of which he now holds the office of secretary. Mr. Kitney was married in 1873 to a daughter of the late Mr. Thomas Ashby, of East Farleigh, Kent, and has three sons and five daughters.

Marton Atheletic Club is a continuation of the old Caledonian Society, which was merged into the Club in 1893. An annual sports meeting is held in Marton Park, and over £100 is distributed in prize-money. Most of the principal residents in the town are members and officers, the secretary being Mr. Joseph Temperley.

Rangitikei Chess Club. Headquarters, Marton. This Club was started in July, 1893, and has forty-five members. The Hon. F. Arkwright, M.L.C., is the president, and the vice-presidents are:—Dr. Skerman, of Marton; Mr. W. Meldrum, of Hunterville; and Mr. Aldworth, of Silverhope. The secretary is Mr. F. C. Wilson. This is a live Club, and so far as the senior team is concerned, they have practically an unbroken record. In the Championship Tournament of 1895–6, Mr. Meldrum, of this Club, won the Championship of New Zealand, while Mr. O. C. Pleasants, of the same Club, took the second place.

Marton Cricket Club, which was re-organised in 1896, with a membership of sixty, charges seven shillings and six pence as an annual subscription; its colours are blue and white. The Club, which plays in Marton Park, was at one time premier club of the district. The officers for 1896–1897 are:—Messrs. R. E. Beckett (president), F. M. Deigbton, S. Skerman, R. Aldworth, and D. C. Tennent (vice-presidents), F. C. Remington (secretary and treasurer), A. Hawke, F. C. Remington, W. L. Little, R. W. Comyns, and J. Temperley (committee).

The Marton Football Club, which was established many years ago, and was re-organised in 1896, has from thirty to forty members. The Club has supplied representatives, who have played in New Zealand and Intercolonial teams. The officers are: Messrs. E. F. lveson (captain) and A. Way (secretary and treasurer).

Rangitikei Cycling Club. Officers (1896):—Ven. Archdeacon Towgood (president), Messis. J. Stevens, M.H.R., J. Mayo, and J. J. McDonald (vice-presidents), F. Hunt, junr. (captain), J. Kerr (vice-captain), A. Way (secretary and treasurer), G. M. Gamble, S. J. Gibbons, J. Bell, J. Boyce, and J. Robson (committee). The Club, which was established in 1892, has about fifty members.

Mr. James Kerr, Vice-Captain of the Rangitikei Cycling Club, who is a son of Mr. James Kerr, of Coromandel, mine manager, was born in 1871 at Shotts, near Edinburgh. Arriving in New Zealand with his parents in 1876, he was educated at the Thames, Auckland, where he entered the Telegraph Department as messenger in 1883. Seven years later Mr. Kerr was promoted to the position of operator, and after a short time in Wellington he was transferred to Marton. In 1892 Mr. Kerr was married to a daughter of Mr. D. Thurston, of Marton, settler, and has a son and a daughter. [Mr. Kerr has (February, 1897) been transferred to Wanganui.]

Photo by Billens.
Mr. James Kerr.

The Marton Hack Racing Club, which has been established for the past twenty years, holds a two-days' meeting at “York Farm” in September of each year. Included in the programme are several hunters' events for members of the Rangitikei Hunt Club. Mr. R. E. Beckett is the secretary.

Mr. James Prosser, Clerk of the Course, who resides in Wellington Road, Marton, was born in Middlesex in 1841, and came to Melbourne in 1855. His father started a line of mail coaches to Malvern Hills, and the subject of this notice worked in the business till 1861, when he arrived at Dunedin and went to the Dunstan Rush. After a short experience on the diggings, he started the White Star Line of expresses in Dunedin, in 1863. Subsequently, at the Whakamarina Rush, he started a line of pack-horses from Canvas Town to Deep Creek. In Wellington, he started a line of Albert cars, running them in conjunction with others, the firm being Hanna, Prosser and Pierey. Subsequently, he ran a line of mail coaches to the Hutt and Pahautanui for several years. Mr. Prosser was elected vice-president of the first seamen's union in Wellington, and on retiring received a handsome presentation and a flattering address from the members. In 1868 he took the hotel now known as the “Star,” in Wellington, and then the Telegraph Hotel, in Otaki, and afterwards went to Martinborough and bought the Club Hotel, which he leased in 1886, removing to Wellington. Subsequently he took Ashton's Hotel in Greymouth, and has since conducted various hotels in the Wellington Province, eventually settling in Marton. Mr. Prosser has been a member of the Marton Borough Council, and was captain of the Marton Fire Brigade for several years. He was married in 1867, and has five children.

Theatre Royal (James McChesney, proprietor), Broadway, Marton. This fine two-story wood and iron building, lately known as the Foresters' Hall, has just been re-built by its enterprising owner. It is adapted to seat from 550 to 600, and has extensive stage conveniences, with comfortable dressing-rooms. Underneath the stage there is a large supper room, which is well fitted up. The fine drop scene, which is the work of a local artist, represents Windsor Castle, and has been very much admired. Mr. McChesney has provided for the ventilation of the theatre by eight large windows. In addition to the main entrance, three other outlets are available in case of fire or panic. The proprietor is glad to make reasonable arrangements for letting to any company visiting Marton.

Smith, William Joseph, Musical Instrument and Music Dealer, and Stationer, Broadway, Marton. Bankers, Bank of Australasia. Mr. Smith, who is referred to in this volume as Bandmaster of the Marton Brass Band, established this business in 1896.