DEATH OF MRS., BAIRD.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 286, 3 December 1929, Page 5

DEATH OF MRS., BAIRD.

IN HER 94TH YEAR.

SAW AUCKLAND GROW UP

REMEMBERS QUEEN STREET A CREEK. One of Auckland's oldest colonists, Mrs. S. C. Baird, passed away yesterday at her home, Tamaki Bridge, between Otahuhu and Papatoetoc. She was 93 years of age, having been born at Hawick, Scotland, on April 29, IS3G. Up to quite recently she was able to come in to town, and every time she walked up Queen Street she must have marvelled at the changes she had seen. As a child she came to Australia with her parents in 1539, and thence to Wellington, but 18 months in the latter place satisfied her father, Mr. William Goodfellow, and he came up to Auckland, where at the first land sale he bought what is now the Bank of Australasia corner for £250, and established a bakery. It remained in the possession of the family until about seven or eight years back, when it Avas sold to the bank for £120,000. Mrs. Baird used to walk across a plank . footbridge that spanned the creek which was Queen Street, on her way to school in' the forties. In 1850 Mr. Goodfellow took up land at Papatoetoe, and Mrs. Baird remembers that the men who were then building the bridge across the Tamaki received 2/6 a day wages. Mrs. Baird was married iu 1861 to Mr. Samuel Christopher Baird, and ever since she has lived on the same property. Baird's wharf, on the Tamaki, just below the old homestead, was a well-known feature on the river, and in the early days much produce was shipped from it, notably during the days of the gold rush at the Thames. Mrs. Baird took a great interest in the Presbyterian Church at Otara, and also in the church work generally. She was a wonderfully preserved old lady, and was not only physically alert, but mentally so. Showing how long a period in Auckland history her life covered, it may be mentioned that she had seen 23 governors and governor-generals, and had witnessed the rise and fall of 35 New Zealand Parliaments. The only surviving member of the original Goodfellow family is a brother of Mrs. Braid's, Mr. Tom Goodfellow, of Waiuku. There are also several nephews, including Mr. William Goodfellow of the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Association.

MR. FREDERICK JONES.

On December 1 an old resident of New Plymouth, Mr. Frederick Jones, died at the advanced age of 89 years. Mr. Jones was born in Worcestershire, England, and went to America, being engaged in the leather industry at Chicago. In 1872 he came to Auckland, and was working in the leather trade until 1883, when he took over the Riverside Tannery at New Plymouth, which he conducted for many years as the Frankley Road Tannery, until advancing age caused- him to retire. Mrs. Jones and the following children survive:—Messrs. B. Jones, X. B. Jones, and Mrs. Beechey, of Haw era.

MR. H. C. WILLIAMS.

The death took place on November 29 of a well known coach builder of Auckland, Mr. Harry Coombe Williams, aged 61 years. Mr. Williams served his apprenticeship with the well known firm of Cousins and Atkins, and when out of his time, went to Sydney and Melbourne to gain further experience. Returning to Auckland, Mr. Williams entered into partnership with Messrs. Gilmour and Joll, but later started business on his own account. Shortly before the death of Mr. Williams his business was formed into a private company. When a young man, Mr. Williams was a member of the volunteer Coastguard Artillery. He also belonged to the Ponsonby Lodge of Druids. Mr. Williams was married to a daughter of Mr. George Ivil, who survives her husband. There are two children, a son and a daughter.

MRS. ANASTASIA BELL.

A resident of Mount Eden, Mrs. Anastasia Bell, died on December 1 at her home, Bellevue Eoad, aped 77 years. She was the widow of the late Mr. Edmund Bell, an old resident of Auckland, who was a,t one time a mine manager on the West Coast of New Zealand. The following children survive:—Mrs. T. H. Levien, Mrs. D. Mitchell, Miss Editli, and Miss Ivy Bell. One son, Mr. Percy Bell, was killed during the war.