In 1930 Walter and Madeline had an overseas trip visiting Britain and the USA.  Corrie, their daughter joined them while they were in Britain.  Corrie, who had been living in London since 1928, had become engaged to a man while she was over there and Walter and Madeline had visited him and his parents.  After this the young man travelled to South Africa and while he was there contracted Blackwater fever and died.  This is probably the reason their daughter returned to New Zealand.

The area that Walter farmed was around 2000 acres. His brother Allan farmed a similar area and the Blackrock farm would have been at least that. Walter, being the nearest to town had an automatic telephone in 1918.  It is believed that Masterton had the first automatic exchange in New Zealand. There was an earth return single wire starting at the Te Ore Ore Blackrock road corner and travelled across farmland all the way to Snowdon near Mauriceville.  This was the telephone service used by the other brothers for a long time.  The Snowdon farm was still using this line in the early 1950’s.  At the time this line was put up it only crossed three or four outside farms, otherwise it was all on Cameron land.

Walter was essentially a horse man, cars came to be around when he was in his 50’s, and it is believed he found it hard to understand them.  During the first World War, he was made Manager of the Wellington Meat Export Company at Waingawa.  This was before the Borthwicks Works.  He was provided with a car which was possibly delivered to him.  Corrie was returning home by train and he thought he would surprise her by going to meet her.  When he drove up to the front gate, he got out to open it but neglected to apply the hand brake, and when he turned around, it had disappeared down into the gully.  The next car he was taking the family up to see his brother Allan and when changing gears put it in reverse gear.  The next time Walter was supplied a car, it came with a driver.  Any cars they owned after that were driven by Madeline.