Thank you Sally for the two photographs particularly that of Emma Pudney. I would be interested to know which 'lines' you are pursuing. briefly, in case you don't know - Henry Stark was married to Emma, their son John Powning Stark (B 15 march 1868) is my wife's grandfather. He arrived in South Africa around 1896 from NZ. in 1898 he settled in Springs, a then gold mining town east of Johannesburg. The pic you have of him in military uniform was taken probably between 1899 - 1902 when he served in the Imperial Transport Company in Newcastle, Natal during the Anglo-Boer War. He was a successful (and well connected) businessman in Springs from 1903. He had a number of agencies serving the gold industry. He owned a number of farms and properties. The real estate company bearing his name still operates in springs.
29 December 1904 he married Christina Staude. A daughter Joan Powning was born 10 November 1911. He was mayor of Springs on two occasions. He died on his farm 'Kia Ora' in the Olifantsfontein district of the then Transvaal on 3 November 1950.
Joan corresponded with a Mrs G Begbie of Auckland they were in some way related to the Stark family - any connection? My wife (then Stella Pithey) met a Gertrude Begbie in Auckland in the late 60's. Thanks for your input
I have a pic of the Begbie ladies if interested. regards Mike Blizzard