MRS. MARY McLEAN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 206, 1 September 1933, Page 9

MRS. MARY McLEAN.

DEATH OF A PIONEER. The death occurred at Takanini yesterday of Mrs. Mary Donald McLean, at the age of 94 years. Mrs. McLean, who was formerly Miss Steel, was born at Johnson, Paisley, Scotland, in 1839, and came to New Zealand with her first husband, Mr. James Owens, in 1801. With a small party of settlers they arrived in the ship Viola, and were transhipped to Clevedon, which at that time was known as Wairoa. They were presented with a small section by. the Government, and their first home was built of nikau, as were the homes of the other settlers, until the timber was pit-sawn for stronger dwellings. They remained there about eight years and then joined the "gold rush" to the Thames in 18G9. After a period in that district they decided to go north, and took up coalmining in Kawakawa, and afterwards a block of land at Ruapekapeka. To reach that block it was necessary to cut a track through 12 miles of bush and fcrnland to allow bullock teams to go through with supplies. It was at Ruapekapeka that Mrs. McLean lost her first husband, and she was left to manage the rearing of eight children, who were all at school age, and the cultivation of the farm. Added to that was the fact that, being a midwife and nurse, she was often called upon at night, but she cheerfully undertook this as all in the day's work, even though it meant many miles of riding on horseback over rough bush country. Mrs. McLean was very proud of the fact that within a comparatively short time her farm was freehold and the battle won. ■ Mrs. McLean subsequently came to Auckland, and in 1917 was again married, and with her husband, Mr. Andrew McLean, settled in Papakura, but after the death of Mr. McLean, a little over two years ago, her health commenced to fail. However, last summer she did her share of work in the gilrden, while knitting was a pastime that occupied her attention right up to a fortnight before her death. Both Mrs. McLean's husbands were friends on the Viola, which brought the party of settlers to the Dominion. Her first marriage certificate has been preserved, and curiously enough has been aided in preservation by the pasting on the back of a minor's right made out in the name of her first husband on December 9. 18fi9. The certificate itself is dated September 12, ]B;>9. the marriage taking place at the Presbyterian Church at Kilbarchan, near Eklerslic, Paisley, by the Rev. David Reston. Mrs. McLean is survived by two sons and two daughters, 1 29 grandchildren and 17 great-grand- ! children.