researched for anafred

Arthur Frederick PRUDEN (1876-1916)
...was born in North Canterbury, a son of:
George Eugene PRUDEN (1842-1918) & (1st wife) Mary Ann WILLIAMS (1843-1912)
who lived in the South Island before later moving to settle in the North Island

NOTE
George Eugene Pruden remarried in 1913 (when he was 71) to Eva Clayton (1882-1953) who had a 3 year old daughter, Eva Selbie Clayton (1910-2002)
Eva Clayton (his wife) was a daughter of James Henry CLAYTON (1851-1929) & Emma Amelia HESTER (1855-1939), originally from London - died in Tauranga
Eva Selbie Clayton was adopted by George & her name became 'Betty' Pruden

* ARTHUR's siblings (found to date):
* 1865 - 1941 Letitia Mary 'Letty' Pruden (+William George Jones +William Crump)
* 1868 - 1944 Gertrude Pruden (+James Edward Patrick Hagan)
* 1870 - George Ernest Pruden New Zealand Artist (+Catherine Ada Pegler)
* 1872 - 1957 Albert Thomas 'Bert' Pruden (+Emma Thomas King)
* 1874 - 1874 unnamed Pruden
* 1876 - 1916 Arthur Frederick Pruden
* 1880 - 1971 Winifred Ada Pruden (+John Dryden Webber +Henry John Wells)
* 1882 - 1958 Lancelot Harold Pruden (+Eleanor Mary Belcher +Dorothy Ethel Nicholls (nee Crisp), see story at link: Lancelot had the Cheviot Hotel in 1929

Hannah Elizabeth BLOOMFIELD (1878-1963)
...was born Essex, Greater London, a daughter of:
Joseph BLOOMFIELD (1849-1918) & Elizabeth Thorp READ (1849-1928)

* HANNAH's siblings (found to date):
* 1873 - 1963 Lillian Evangeline Bloomfield (+George Thomas Hine)
* 1874 - 1904 Joseph Edward Bloomfield (+Violet Emmeline Quarrell (1876-1954)
...Hawera & Normanby Star, 30 March 1904
... BLOOMFIELD - On 29th March, accidentally, Joseph Edward, only son of Joseph and Elizabeth Thorp Bloomfield, Lower Hastings Road, aged 30
... A young married farmer named Joseph Bloomfield was killed this afternoon by a fall of earth in a pit at Matapu. NOTE Joseph & Violet had 3 sons before his death. A 4th son was born 11 weeks after. Violet didn't remarry
* 1876 - Louisa Bloomfield
* 1878 - Hannah Elizabeth Bloomfield


ARTHUR & HANNAH married 20 March 1897
(Arthur was 20 & Hannah was 18.11)

their known children (born in Mangatoki, Eltham):
... 1
1897 - 1973 Leslie John 'Les' Pruden
...born 11 July 1897
He attended Matapu School, Taranaki
He attended the Te Puke No 2 Road School
Leslie served in WWI as Private 21328 with the NZEF, 16th Reinforcements Auckland Infantry Battalion, A Company. When he embarked on 19 Aug 1916 his mother, as next of kin, was listed as living at No. 2 Road, Te Puke, Bay of Plenty. (His father was already at the front & was killed in action the following month)
New Zealand Herald, 7 March 1918 BACK FROM THE WAR
Sick and Wounded men return on duty. Total 622 of all ranks
PRUDEN, Leslie J. (Mrs A. F. Pruden, Te Puke)
* Leslie married Gertrude May BEARNE (1897-1989) in 1920
LESLIE JOHN 'Les' Pruden died 21 January 1973 aged 75
GERTRUDE MAY Pruden died 19 November 1990 aged 92
- her last address was Smith St., Frankton, Hamilton
they are buried together MAGN-32-07 at Hamilton Park cemetery


... 2
1898 - 1923 Ethel 'Vera' Pruden
...born 9 December 1898
She attended the Te Puke No 2 Road School
* Ethel married Thomas BARNETT (1894-1986) in 1915
- son of James BARNETT & Johanna PRATT
Te Puke Times, 30 December 1915
A pretty wedding took place on Friday last, when Miss Vera Pruden, eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs Arthur Pruden, of No 2 Road, was married to Mr Thos. Barnett, only son of Mrs J. Barnett, also of No 2 Road. The ceremony was performed by Mr F. G. Brown, at the residence of the bride's parents. The bride, who was given away by her father was tastefully attired in white figured lustre, with wreath and orange blossoms. Miss Lily Pruden acted as bridesmaid, and was dressed in white embroidered muslin. The duties of best man were carried out by Mr Reginald Alexander. After the nuptial knot had been tied the happy couple and the guests sat down to a dainty spread, at which the usual toasts were honoured. Both bride and bridegroom were the recipients of numerous presents
* Thomas Barnett served as Private 33504 with the NZEF, 21st Reinforcements E Company. He embarked from Wellington 19 Jan 1917. Ethel was his next of kin
ETHEL VERA Barnett died 20 March 1923 in Te Puke aged 24
* Thomas remarried in 1927 to Jean DUNLOP (1910-1971)
- daughter of Thomas James Victor DUNLOP (1889-1961) & Rebecca Winifred Mary MAY (1888-1964). In 1913 her father was a J.P. in Pukekawa, Raglan
JEAN Barnett died 21 January 1971 aged 71 & buried at Te Puke
THOMAS Barnett died 14 April 1986 aged 92 & buried at Te Puke


... 3
1899 - 1902 Arthur Harold Pruden
...born 26 December 1899
ARTHUR died 8 November 1902 aged 2.10
Arthur is buried Old Plot 15, New Plot 5527, Block 2 at Eltham General Interdenominational (incorrect death date on database)


... 4
1901 - 1977 Lillian Winifred 'Lily' Pruden
...born 26 February 1901
She attended the Te Puke No 2 Road School
* Lillian married William John Campbell CAVANAGH (1893-1950) 16 October 1920
- William was born in Gisborne to James CAVANAGH (1863-1901) & Mary Ann 'Polly' ARDERN (1866-1944). He had sisters, Olive, Georgina, Hazel Mary & Elizabeth Stewart Cavanagh
their known children (born Waikato):
* 1922 - 2008 Ada Phillis Cavanagh (+ Norman Allan Heenan + ? McLeod)
* 1923 - 1990 Frederick Thomas Henery Cavanagh
* 1924 - 2003 Hazel Alice Cavanagh (+ Richard Wensor, +Raymond Ebbett London, + Ivan Rex Climo. Lived Keri Keri, buried Pongaroa - see also)
* 1926 - 1994 Allan John Pruden Cavanagh
? - ?
? - ?
? - ?
* 1939 - 2014 Gail Janette Cavanagh (+ James Carrington Benjamin (1940-2010)
* Gail passed 21 Feb aged 74 (last week at time of writing)
WILLIAM JOHN CAMPBELL Cavanagh was a plumber. He died in Auckland 24 Aug 1950 and is buried Plot 53, Row 4, RC Division E at Waikumete cemetery
In 1969 Lillian was in Waitemarama, (30km south of Hokianga) Northland. She died 15 August 1977 in Rawene, aged 76 and her ashes buried with husband William


... 5
1907 - 2003 Bethel Thelma Pruden
...born 7 February 1907
Bethel attended the Te Puke No 2 Road School
She attended the Ngaere School
In 1921 Bethel (aged 14) was at Ngaere School and 'cleaned up' at the end-of-year annual prize-giving ceremony: A prize for Good Attendance, Collection of grasses, & for her marigold growing as a member of the girls' and boys' agricultural club. She came 6th for her dairy cow
In 1922 Bethel (aged 15), still at Ngaere School, won prizes at the New Plymouth Winter Show. In the Rural Section, Plan of their school grounds: 1st Roma Hanora (Ohangai school), 2nd Roi Rangihaeata (Ohangai school), 3rd Bethel Prude (Ngaere school). She came 1st for her new & skim milk & 2nd with her collection of grasses. She received a 'Very Highly Commended' for her dairy cow
* Bethel married Arthur John ANDREWS (1899-1963) in 1928
- son of Albert James ANDREWS (1854-1914) & Kate Annie CROCKER (1858-1923)
BETHEL THELMA Andrews died 24 September 2003 aged 96


... 6
1911 - 1984 Rhoda Elizabeth 'Betty' Pruden
...born 9 September 1911
when Rhoda attended the Te Puke No 2 Road School her parent/guardian was 'Mrs Pound' (as opposed to all her siblings whose parent/guardian was their father)
* There was a Percy Daniel POUND (1885-1939) farming in No 2 Road, Te Puke. He married Emily Laura SMITH (1883-1956) in 1916. They had a daughter, Jane Hilda Pound (1918-2007) born at No 2 Rd., but possibly others. They were in Harris street, Te Puke in 1928. Percy died 21 Jan 1939, his probate was in the High Court, Auckland. Emily Louisa died 4 March 1956 & they are buried in Te Puke
* Rhoda married ? JACKSON, year unknown
RHODA ELIZABETH Jackson died 27 Jan 1984 & cremated at Rotorua
- her ashes were returned


... 7
1914 - 2001 Olive Freda Pruden
...born 8 July 1914
* Olive married Leslie Philip HOLMES (1910-1989) in 1936
* Olive married Robert Alfred CATLEY (1915-1993) in 1963
* Olive married ? PINK in 1994
OLIVE THELMA Pink died 8 July 2001 in Whangarei on her 87th birthday


* ARTHUR FREDERICK Pruden embarked for war 5 February 1916 as Sergeant Major 26/57 with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, 4th Battalion, C Company. His wife Hannah and parents George & Mary Ann, were then listed as living in Te Puke.
Arthur was Killed In Action at Somme France on 15 Sep 1916 aged 41.
He is buried Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, Longueval, Somme, France
Colonist, 2 November 1916 Sergeant-Major Pruden, who was recently reported missing, and is now reported killed in action on September 15th, was the third son of Mr George Pruden, of Kati-Kati, Bay of Plenty. Before enlisting he was a farmer at Te Puki. He leaves a wife and six children, his only son being with the Fifteenth Reinforcements. He was a sergeant in the Volunteers, and always keenly interested in the Territorials. He was born at Mason's Flat, North Canterbury (86km north of Christchurch), and was forty-three (sic) years of age

HANNAH ELIZABETH next married ALBERT POTTS (1886-1961) 15 July 1921
(Albert was 35 & Hannah was 43) they had 2 children
* Nancy Lynette Potts (+ Ivan 'Jack' Vuletich)
* unknown child Potts (died an infant)

Albert Potts was born in Waipukurau to Robert POTTS (1849-1925) & Matilda CROMBIE (1845-1919) who arrived into Napier 16 Dec 1876 on the Waitara with 2 month old Mary Lilias Potts (lived in Nelson St., Newcastle on Tyne in 1861 & at Shieldfield Green in the parish of St Nicholas when Mary was born}
Albert's paternal grandparents were Robert POTTS (1818-1839) & Elizabeth BURNETT, confectioners at Grainger St., (living at 3 Nelson St), Newcastle on Tyne
Albert's maternal grandparents were John CROMBIE & Lilias RENTON from Scotland to Newcastle on Tyne
the children of ROBERT & MATILDA (born Hawkes Bay):
1876 - Mary Lilias/Lillian Potts (born England)
1877 - 1950 Robert Potts (+ Minnie May Rogers in 1907)
- they had 10 known children
- Minnie was a granddaughter of William ROGERS & Eliza SCANDLYN
1877 - 1950 Matilda Potts (+ Richard Rogers in 1899)
- Richard was a son of William ROGERS & Eliza SCANDLYN
- they had 11 known children
1882 - 1955 William George Potts (+ Harriett Dodd in 1921)
1884 - 1934 Julia Wilhelmina Potts (+ Robert Saunders Mutton 19 Sep 1903)
- they had 6 known children
1886 - 1961 Albert Potts (+ Hannah Elizabeth Pruden as above), 1 child

ALBERT Potts died 27 January 1961 aged 75
- he is buried SOLD3-0-35 at Hamilton East Cemetery
HANNAH ELIZABETH Potts died 8 February 1963 aged 84 in Te Awamutu
- she is buried CHRRY-24-01 at Hamilton Park Cemetery
From the death notices pasted into scrapbooks by Mrs Jean Barnett who lived in Te Puke all her life ...
* wife of the late Albert
- mother of:
* Leslie Pruden (Frankton)
* Lillian (Mrs Cavanagh, Northland)
* Betty (Mrs Andrews, Rotorua)
* Rhoda (Mrs Jackson, Roxburgh)
* Freda (Mrs Cateley, Whangarei)
* Nancy (Mrs Vuletich, Rotorua)
* & the late Vera (Mrs Barnett)

~~~

TIMELINE for this PRUDEN line
Taranaki Herald, 2 December 1890 LAND BOARD
Perpetual Leases - G. Pruden, sec 6, block 16, Waitara, 1s

Press, 3 May 1893 SALE AT CHRISTCHURCH
Two compact 'Villa Residences' by auction at Land Sale Rooms, Cashel street.
Messrs H. Matson and Co have received instructions from Mr George Pruden (who has settled in the North Island), to SELL by PUBLIC AUCTION his property situated in Tomes Road, off Papanui Road, known as 'Guildford' and 'Lyndon' The Houses are built of Totara timber, are on high concrete foundations, water laid on to bath room and scullery, fitted with Venetian blinds and well finished in every way. Detached wash houses, with coppers, water laid on, &c. With Lyndon property there is a stable, with loft. The area of land to each house is three-eighths of an acre, which is planted and laid out with ornamental trees, flower gardens, &c

Feilding Star, 14 December 1894 ADVERTISEMENT
Mr A. Pruden, of Campbelltown, (Rongotea) artist, sign writer, carriage and house painter etc., Good Work Guaranteed. Prices suitable for the hard times.
Address, c/o Mr H. Bishop

Hawera & Normanby Star, 6 January 1898 GEORGE's FARM SALE
On the Farm, Mangatoki, CLEARING DAIRY SALE
Monday, 10th, January at 12.30 o'clock
NOLAN, TONKS & CO., have received instructions from Mr Geo. Pruden, who is giving up dairying, to sell as above, the whole of his Dairy Stock consisting of-
52 choice cows in milk and to calf
12 superior calves
1 Shorthorn bull
Spring dray and spring trap
cans, coolers, etc., etc.
The auctioneers can strongly recommend the above cows, as being a superior lot and invite inspection of same

Hawera & Normanby Star, 15 June 1898 KAPONGA NEWS
Mr R. Newitt has been appointed manager to the new Dairy Co., and the following tenders have been accepted:- Mackie, White and Co. for firewood to factory; J. H. Richardson for Mangawhero Creamery; G. Pruden, building Mangawhero Creamery

Hawera & Normanby Star, 21 July 1898 MANGATOKI
NOTICE - POISON laid for dogs on my farm. G. Pruden, Mangatoki

Hawera & Normanby Star, 31 December 1898 KAPONGA SPORTS
... in the evening the usual dance was held and was a great success.
Among the many pretty dresses and costumes worn we noticed particularly several fancy ones, being:
Miss Coffey, nurse
Miss Collins, sailor lass
Miss B. Law as Highland lassie
Miss Constance Mellor, flower girl
Miss Pruden, swansdown
and many others whose names we could not obtain

Hawera & Normanby Star, 1 March 1899 ACCIDENT AT ELTHAM
A runaway occurred from the station on Monday when a horse attached to a cart, the property of Mr Theobold, carrier, got away. It appears that in some manner the winkers came off, and the horse took fright and careered down Railway street turning into Bridge street till opposite Mr Cole's, blacksmith, when it collided with Mr Pruden's trap. Mrs Pruden had a very narrow escape, she being thrown out of the trap on to her head, but strangely she was not much hurt beyond a great shaking. The horse continued his run till he arrived at his stable without any further mishap

Taranaki Herald, 5 April 1899 LAND BOARD
sec 95, block 10, Ngaere, 22 acres, G. Pruden

Hawera & Normanby Star, 24 July 1899 LAND SALES
Charles Martin, land agent, Eltham, reports the following sales
90 acres freehold, Geo. Pruden to J. Phillips

Hawera & Normanby Star, 25 July 1899 MANGATOKI BAZAAR
The gift-auction and bazaar upon which the hopes of the hall committee have been so long founded was held on Friday last, and proved for Mangatoki the great event of the year
... Great excitement was caused by the nail-driving competition, which was won after a hard contest by Miss Pruden

Hawera & Normanby Star, 18 August 1899 KAPONGA
Mr Pruden, the contractor for the Rowan Creamery, has the frame erected, so that the competion is not so far distant

Hawera & Normanby Star, 21 August 1899 BALL AT MATAPU
The ball held on Wednesday night, 16th inst., was a great success, visitors being present from all the surrounding districts. The music was supplied by Mr A. Allen, and was excellent both for "time and tune", as the alliterative phrase goes.
I have been asked by the committee to specially thank the following ladies for their assistance:-
Mesdames Allen, Preece & Pruden and Misses Crocker, O'Sullivan, Morrison & Muir

Hawera & Normanby Star, 4 January 1900 LOST & FOUND
3 REWARD (Jan 2014 equivalent of $543) - Lost from Rowan, a Light Bay Horse, 4 years old, about 16 hands; small white on hind and fore foot; no visible brand. Anyone returning him to Geo, Pruden, Eltham Road, Mangatoki, will receive the above reward. G. Pruden

Hawera & Normanby Star, 3 February 1900 SOCIAL AT MATAPU
The social held here on Wednesday night in aid of the Patriotic Fund was a great success, probably one of the most successful of its kind yet held here ...
The following are the vocal items on the programme:-
Song, "Bide-a-Wee" Mr S. Longney
Song, "Soldiers of the Queen" Mr D. F. Patterson
Recitation, "The Grace of a Hundred Dead" Mr Pruden
Song, "The Toilers" Mr Putt
Song, "In Old Madrid" Miss Shearer

Hawera & Normanby Star, 26 February 1900 LAND FOR SALE BY TENDER
Ten acres of First-class land, well fenced and watered, with a good 6-roomed house, with water laid on to kitchen, shed and other outbuilding. Tenders to be addressed to the owner on the property. Tenders to close on 5th march, 1900. No tender necessarily accepted. G. PRUDEN, Eltham Road, Mangatoki

Hawera & Normanby Star, 8 March 1900 ELTHAM ANNUAL SPORTS
The above sports were held yesterday (Wednesday), on the Eltham racecourse (Mr T. Mabey's farm), and though the weather was threatening in the morning the attendance was fair, with a good sprinkling of ladies
The following are the results:-
Half-mile handicap: B. Hayward 1, W. J. Hotter 2, H. Pruden 3

Hawera & Normanby Star, 23 April 1900 ROAD MAINTENANCE TENDERS
No. 60 Eltham road, A. F. Pruden, 6 12s 6d per mile
No. 61 Hastings road, A. F. Pruden, 6 per mile

Hawera & Normanby Star, 27 August 1900 ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL
Messrs Parrott, Judd, Pruden, Seed, Dawes, Pierce, Neville, R. A. Adams, and R. Mumby drew attention to the dangerous state of the Anderson road, opposite sections 25 and 26, block 10 and urged on the council the necessity of reducing the present grade and widening the filling

Hawera & Normanby Star, 5 March 1901 RAWHITIROA
... Mr Pruden was formerly settled on the Eltham road, and is only a recent addition to the settlers at Rawhitiroa

Hawera & Normanby Star, 21 March 1901 ELTHAM 3rd ANNUAL SHOW
The third annual show of the above society was held at the Athenaeum on Wednesday. The weather was somewhat against a good attendance, but, notwithstanding the threatening aspect, a large gathering assembled, and the hall was crowded
Following is the prize list:-
PRESERVES, HONEY etc
Chutney, home-made: Mrs Ferguson 1; Mrs A. F. Pruden 2;

Hawera & Normanby Star, 28 March 1901 ENDORSING WASHING MACHINE
Messrs Dixon and Bates, Hawera
Dear Sirs - It is with pleasure I bear testimony to the excellent quality of the 'Sellers' Washer that I obtained from you about 12 months ago. As a health and labour saving I consider it a triumph, and would not go back to the old way at any price
- Yours truly, H. E. Pruden, Mangatoki

Hawera & Normanby Star, 3 June 1901 RECEPTION for TROOPER WARD
Never before has Mangatoki Hall held such a crowd as it did on Friday evening, when a social and dance was given as a welcome to Trooper J. G. Ward on his return from the Transvaal. Prior to proceeding to South Africa, Mr Ward was located in this district, being employed at Mangatoki factory, and Friday's gathering was largely due to the efforts of the factory employees, especially prominent being Messrs Swede and Bennett.
... Miss Pruden recited "The Soldier Boy's Return"

Evening Post, 28 September 1901 PATENTS & INVENTORS
Messrs Henry Hughes, patent agents, Queen's Chambers (opposite Post Office), Wellington, report the acceptance of the following patents in New Zealand during the fortnight ending 18th September:-
Hawkes Bay - T. A. Pruden, composition for destroying cockroaches

Evening Post, 14 June 1902 COLONIAL INVENTIONS
Applications for letters patent, with provisional specifications, have been accepted by the Registrar as:-
... George E, Pruden, of Christchurch (Arthur's brother as their father was living in the North by this date) carpenter, an improved cramp utilisable as a flooring cramp and for other analogous purposes

Hawera & Normanby Star, 26 June 1902 RAWHITIROA SCHOOL COMMITTEE
One of the largest meetings in connection with school matters was held on Monday evening, for the purpose of electing a new committee.
Mr E. Parrott was voted to the chair
The following seven members were elected without opposition:- Messrs
Bond, Brew, Coplestone (Secretary), Maber, Nairn (Chairman), Pruden

Manawatu Standard, 9 December 1902 BOCK'S HERBAL REMEDIES
Mr Thomas A. Pruden, of Waipukurau, New Zealand, writes:- "I have great pleasure in recommending your Rheumatic Powder. I had a severe attack of lumbago this winter. I began to get relief in a few minutes after taking the first dose, and in a few days was alright again ... "

Press, 23 November 1903 SERIOUS ACCIDENT AT CHRISTCHURCH
Three men engaged on the erection of a house at Merivale for Mr Cox, met with a rather serious accident on Saturday. The scaffold in which they were standing collapsed, and the men fell a distance of from fifteem to eighteen feet to the ground. One escaped with a few bruises, but the other two had to be taken to the Hospital, where it was found that Thomas Bates, aged twenty-eight years, was suffering from a severe scalp wound and shock to the system. The third man, George Pruden (Arthur's brother) aged thirty-three years, had fared more seriously and was found to have concussion of the brain, in addition to a bad cut on his lip and several broken ribs. Both men are now progressing satisfactorily

Bay Of Plenty Times, 28 August 1907 PAINTING LESSONS
Mr T. A. Pruden (Thomas Albert, Arthur's brother) will commence oil painting classes

Bay Of Plenty Times, 27 March 1908 COCKROACH EXTERMINATOR
Some time ago, Mr T. A. Pruden, a resident of Tauranga, discovered a preparation which possesses the qualities needed to bring about an immediate extermination of the much-hated cockroach ... more at above link

Bay Of Plenty Times, 13 July 1908 MOVE TO TE PUKE
Mr A. Pruden, late of Eltham, who has purchased Mr J. Ward's property at Te Puke, arrived here on Saturday, accompanied by Mrs Pruden and family

Bay Of Plenty Times, 26 July 1911 PROPOSED NEW COUNTY
A petition in favour of the creation of a Te Puke county is now being circulated in the Te Puke and Maketu Ridings. The area of the proposed county lies between the Tauranga harbour on the west, the Whakatane boundary on the east and the Rotorua boundary on the south. The petition is in the hands of Mr A. F. Pruden, who has already secured a large number of signatures. It is intended to present the petition to the coming session of Parliament

Wanganui Chronicle, 21 August 1912 SALE OF THE OIL PAINTINGS
The auction sale of high-class oil paintings to-day at 2.30 at Veitch and Muir's rooms, promise to be a pronounce success. Quite a number of citizens have visited the rooms and admired the splendid display. Mr Pruden is much better known in the South Island, where he has done some very good work indeed, and this is practically his first visit to Wanganui. A sketch 'Putiki Pah' is included in to-day's sale and will no doubt find a purchaser. The Southern Press has referred in very flattering terms to Mr Purden's productions and we anticipate spirited bidding at to-day's sale. The pictures are now all hung, and may be inspected this morning

Bay Of Plenty Times, 19 June 1914 STOCK SALE
The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., will hold three sales in the county next week. On Friday a clearing sale will be held at Riversdale, Katikati, on behalf of Mr T. A. Pruden (Thomas Albert, Arthur's brother)

Te Puke Times, 27 April 1915 TE PUKE ROAD BOARD
The monthly meeting of the Te Puke Road Board was held on Saturday. Present: Messrs A. F. Pruden, C. Barrow and F. Bostock. Mr Pruden was voted to the chair

Te Puke Times, 7 July 1916 ARTHUR PRUDEN writes home from the front
We have been given permission by Mrs A. F. Pruden to publish the following extract from a letter she received this week from her husband, Sergt-Major A. F. Pruden, who is "somewhere in France" -
"We are billeted at present in a French village, just where, of course, I cannot say. The men are all in barns, bedded down with straw, etc. It is fairly cold weather just now, very much like Taranaki spring weather, a good deal of rain, mostly at night, with dull days and a cold wind. We go on a route march every afternoon, with packs up, and that warms us up, I can tell you. But it is pretty cold at night. I am living in a house with our Major and two sergeants, the acting quarter-master-sergeant, and Major's batman, and am very comfortable. We have a nice room to sit in, furnished with a warmer that sends heat out all around. By the time you get this I expect we will be in the trenches doing our bit and about time too. It is about eight months now that I have been in camp, and nothing done. We passed through a good bit of France coming here, and it is, without doubt, a beautiful country. No wonder the Germans wanted it. It was a great sight to see hundred of acres of grape vines. The whole country seems to be under crop, but in such small patches. A field of about ten acres will have in most cases about a dozen patches of crop, all in different stages of growth. They use every yard of ground right up to the doors of the houses, and also up the slopes and to the top of the hills. It must be all spade work, as the patches they have in are too small for a plough to be worked, especially on the hill-sides. There is hardly any stock to be seen, and in the country hardly a fence. The roads even are not fenced. How they get cattle from one place to another I don't know, unless they lead them. In the villages they have live hedges, and there are a good many trees about. In the summer it must be very pretty. At present the trees are just coming into leaf. The country must carry a great population, for there is a village every two or three miles, and farm houses in between. You never saw such old-fashioned houses as they have here - all built of stone or brick, with tile roofs. A lot of them have the date of their building let into the wall or roof with different coloured tiles or bricks. One in this village is dated 1871, which makes it 155 years old. Yet the street of the place are a disgrace. Some of them, or I may say, most of them, are only half a chain wide, with a ditch along one side half full of stagnant mud and water. All the slops and refuse from the houses are thrown into the streets, which in most cases are half up to the boot-tops in mud, so you can guess the state things are in. Inside the houses the people are as clean as any I ever saw, so I suppose it is the town boards that are to blame. There is no water supply or drainage of any sort. The people get their water from the public pumps by the bucket-full. Out of the towns the roads, or most of them are good, metalled in most cases, and level for miles. In some districts they are as white as chalk and as smooth as a table.
We are working seven days a week now, no holiday, even on Easter Monday, and we had none on Good Friday (yesterday). On Sundays we have Church parade in the morning and route march in the afternoon. The four Company Sergt-Majors went through orders last night as 2nd class warrant officers, so look our for 'swank' when i come home. We had a shuffle round of officers before we left Egypt and the Major of our Company was appointed 2nd in command of the 3rd battalion. We got a major form the 1st battalion and a grand officer he is. He will do me for the rest of my time in the army.
I am keeping very well, and like this part of the globe much better than the desert. Remember me to all friends.

Te Puke Times, 31 October 1916 A & P ASSOCIATION
A meeting of the Committee of the Te Puke Agricultural and Pastoral Association was held on Saturday evening. Mr H. A. Vercoe (President) occupied the chair.
Prior to proceeding with business, on the motion of the President, a vote of condolence was passed with Mrs A. F. Purden in her recent bereavement, and the Secretary was instructed to forward to her a letter expressing they sympathy of the Association and its appreciation of the services rendered by her late husband

Te Puke Times, 14 May 1918 MILITARY SERVICE BOARD
At a meeting of the Military Service board at Rotorua on Friday last, Mrs Pruden appeared to support the appeal of her only son, Pte. L. J. Pruden, who had been at the front for 14 months, and was now at Trentham camp, about to return with the 40th reinforcements. She said her husband had been killed at the front, and she wanted her boy to help on the farm. He had come back from the front on leave owing to his mother's application. - The Board informed Mrs Pruden that they would give her application most sympathetic consideration and send her their decision in a note

Bay Of Plenty Times, 11 September 1918 KATIKATI NOTES
The thirteen-roomed house, known as Junction House and owned by Mr Pruden, was burned down last Wednesday. The house was a hotel in the early days and was situated near the old Katikati-Te Aroha Track

Hawera & Normanby Star, 15 November 1918 DEATH OF GEORGE senior
... We regret having to record the first death from the epidemic, that of Mr G. Pruden, well known in this district and Ratikati, which occurred at 11 o'colock this morning. The deceased gentleman was taken with influenza last week, and on Sunday his condition was such as to necessitate his removal to the hospital, ehre he gradually grew worse, succumnbing this morning.
Te Puke Times, 18 November 1918
... The death took place at Tauranga last week of Mr George Pruden, father of the late Sergt-Major Pruden, of Te Puke, who lost his life on the Western front
Hawera & Normanby Star, 18 November 1918
... Word has been received in Eltham of the death at Te Puke of Mr Geo. Pruden, at the age of 76 years. Mr Pruden lived at Mangatoki for some years, afterwards removing to Rawhitiroa road, where he built the house on the farm now owned by Mr H. A. Woods. One of his sons, Lieut. A. Pruden, was killed at the front. Another son is married to a daughter of Mr C. J. Belcher, of Rawhitiroa

Bay Of Plenty Times, 29 March 1920 TE PUKE HAPPENINGS
Mrs Pruden's farm on the No 2 Road has been sold to Mr Grant of Mangere, at a satisfactory figure

Auckland Star, 11 July 1927 DAIRY PRODUCE EXPORTER
I read with pleasure your editorial on the 'Dairy Produce Exporter'. I am glad to see someone with more brains than I possess sees eye to eye with me. I consider the publication of such a paper as the 'Exporter' a waste of good money these hard times. The excellent papers of the larger towns of New Zealand are always ready to give ample airing to both sides of such an important question as the marketing and selling of our butter. I understood it was the policy of the Control Board to save money for the farmer. I am quite certain the bulk of the farming community would much prefer to do without such a publication as the 'Exporter' and get the cost of producing it added to their butterfat cheques. EVA PRUDEN, Tauranga

Auckland Star, 7 February 1933 TAURANGA NOTES
Miss Eileen Bennett, who has been visiting Tauranga as the guest of Mrs Pruden, Cameron Road, has returned to Hamilton

FOOT NOTES
* Arthur Pruden was a Ratepayer in 1908-09 on Section 32, Shaw Rd, Tauranga
* Eva Pruden (nee Clayton, widow) was living in Cameron Rd., Tauranga in 1928
* descendants of this family are still living No 2 Rd., Te Puke
* Thomas Albert Pruden (Arthur's brother) was also an artist. When the new hotel at Te Puke opened in July 1908, the Bay of Plenty Times reported on the opening.
They wrote: "The painting, papering and general decoration effected by Mr. T A Pruden of Tauranga, has given an artistic finish to the structure which does him the greatest credit"


PHOTO
the PRUDEN home at Rawhitiroa
thank you to anafred for the use of this photo taken from her posting

anafred is a direct descendant and writes:
... "The photograph was taken approximately 10 years ago (2004). There was at that stage still pieces of the original glass around the outside of the house although no windows were intact. The homestead is now in a very dilapidated state. it is situated on Anderson Road, Rawhitiroa which is on the outskirts of Eltham"
... "there is actually a "hidden" staircase behind the front fireplace (what I presume would have been the scullery/parlor) which leads to the attic which I was informed had been set aside for the "maids" quarters. The hallway of the house is wide enough to drive a small car down. From one of the top windows you used to be able to see the words "my love" in the stonework of the garden area. Unfortunately the last time I went there the cattle had destroyed most of this and it was just rubble"