OBITUARY.

MRS. .TOHX, KISSLIXG

One of the few living links with the very earliest days of Auckland was severed yesterday by the death of Mrs. Elizabeth Kissling, who passed away at her home in Claybrook Road, Parnell, 78 years. The deceased lady suifercd a severe accident at the end of last year, and was never afterwards able to leave her bed. She was born in London in the year 183S, and was the daughter of Mr. Sampson Kempthorne, architect, who embarked for Auckland with his family in the ship St. George afoout the end of 1841, arriving (here in May, 1542. Mr. Kempthorne, before leaving London, had purchased a large section of land in Parnell, close to what is now the Domain Drive entrance, and among his personal effects aboard the vessel was a complete wooden cottage in sections. This he erected on the property, and for a long time it formed the home of his family. About the year 1857 his daughter married the late Mr. John Kissling. eldest son of Archdeacon G. A. Kissling, the first vicar of St. Mary's Cathedral, who had also arrived with his family in 1842. With the exception of several years between 1862 and 1871, when her husband's duties as - a bank official took •him to the South Island. the whole of Mrs. Kissling's married life was spent in Auckland, her home being on a portion of tne property originally purchased by her father. She was left a widow in 1871. Her descendants number twenty-three—four children, sixteen grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. The children are Messrrs. H. P. Kissling, of Auckland; G. A. Kissling, of Kaiapoi; and Mesdames A. E. Dewes and Thomas Ward, of Parnell. Mrs. Kissling retained many memories of early days in Auckland, and especially of Bishop Selwyn and Bishops Patteson and Mr J. Selwyn, of Melanesia, all of whom she knew well. She was connected throughout her life with St. Mary's CathedTal, and for many years was a member of -the choir and a teacher in the parish Sunday school. Until her last illness she retained all her faculties in a Temarkable degree, and was greatly esteemed by many friends amongst the older generation of Aucklanderß. Amongst her brothers is the Yen. Archdeacon Kempthorne, of Kelson. Her remains were buried this afternoon in St. Stephen's cemetery, Parnell, Archdeacon MacMnrray conducting the service, part of which-was-read in th» ; CathednU.