OLD MANGERE RESIDENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 110, 12 May 1930, Page 9

OLD MANGERE RESIDENT.

mrs. Annie Mclaughlin dead

PIONEER OF DISTRICT

The death occurred early this morning at her residence, Massey Road, Mangere, of Mrs. Annie McLaughlin, who celebrated her 92nd birthday on October- 3 last year.

In spite of heii great age, Mrs. McLaughlin retained all her faculties until her death, and, in a chat with a "Star" representative on her last birthday, she recalled many thrilling incidents of her life. It was on October 16, 1859, that she landed on the wooden wharf at Auckland from the ship Mermaid after a voyage from the Old Country which had lasted three months. She was then Annie Gibson, an Irish girl of 21 years, and she had come out as lady help to A family which settled in Ponsonby. There she met Mr. John McLaughlin, also Irish born, who had a farm at Mangere. They were married the same year. Until 1897, when her husband died* Mrs. McLaughlin lived and worked on the farm. She removed over 32 years ago to her home in Massey Road, a quaint old-fashioned cottage standing back among its trees on the main road between Mangere and Otahuhu. When the Warriors Came. Mrs. McLaughlin recalled some thrilling events of the Maori War which broke; out in the early 'sixties. There was a big kainga at Ihumatao, which was not far from" the farm. "My husband used to get on very well with the Maoris," she" said. "He seemed to understand them, and several used to work for us, but when the war broke out they went back to the tribe, and we didn't know what would happen. One day, in ISG3 or 3PG4, the warriors marched out in the direction of Pukekohe, and they came past the farmhouse. I had two young children at that time, and although I was not particularly frightened mvself I felt nervous on account of the little ones. My husband was in the militia, but, being a married man with a family, he was not called out to fight, and he was at home with us when the Maoris marched past. As they came to the door some of them shouted 'Heremai!' ('Come here!') and we bolted the door. My husband had his rifle and bayonet, and he'made ready to defend us. The Maoris continued to shout, and my husband opened the door and showed them the bayonet. They were all armed with tomahawks and meres, and many of them had guns, so they could easily have overpowered us, but when they saw my husband they showed they did not intend violence. One of them recognised us, gave us a friendly greeting, and all passed off well." Mrs. McLaughlin went on to recall a dramatic incident in the subsequent fighting a few miles southwards. One of the men who had worked on their farm was a Maori with a humped back. He had disappeared as soon as the trouble began. During one of the marches which the British soldiers made thev were subjected to a good deal of snipimr, and at last the sniper was located in a tall tree. It needed eight or nine shots to bring him down, and then it was found that he was the humpbacked Maori from the Mangere farm. \t this Mrs. Pullen (one of 3lrs. MrLaushlinV daughters) asked her mother to recall the story of a Maori warrior who was found concealed in a farm chimney and whose presence was discovered only because the fire would not draw. The old lady was disinclined f speak on the- matter. She had neard something of the kind, but there were all sorts of rumours flying about at that time and she could not vouch for the facts Certainlv. she said, it was an exciting time for the settlers, but in Manrrere they were lucky to be out of the fishting zone. Although Mangere has been supplied with all modern facilities for a number of rears. Mrs. McLaughlin, who lived alone until a few months ago, when Mrs. Pullen. one of her daughters, went to look' after her. never enjoyed any of them, but preferred the open fireplace for cooking and heating, and kerosene lamps for lighting.

Of eight children, all girls, four now survive Mrs. McLaughlin. They are Mrs. McKinley, of Mount Eden; Mrs. Fullen. of Whangarei; Mrs. Wishart. of Auckland; and Mrs. Graham, of Sydney, who visited her mother last month.

The funeral will take place at the Otahuhu cemetery on Wednesday.