PIONEER'S DEATH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 204, 29 August 1935, Page 8

PIONEER'S DEATH.

MRS. KILGOUR, MANGERE. The early history of Xew Zealand is recalled by the death of Mrs. Ellen Kilgour, which occurred this morning at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. J. Lockwood, Coronation Road, Mangere, in her OCth year. Mrs. Kilgour was only a little girl when she came to Xew Zealand with her parents. On their arrival at Auckland by the ship Barronfort in 1847 they were transported by a bullock dray over a badly-formed bush track to a billet barn which was situated where the Epsom tram barn now stands. Soon after her marriage 70 years ago to Mr. John Kilgour, a eawiniller, she accompanied her husband to carry out a timber contract at Kuwhia. The journey was made by schooner from Onehunga, and Mrs. Kilgour used to recnll that her visit led to a friendship with the Maoris which she always cherished afterwards. Speaking of her experience to her friends, she used to say that she could always get on with the natives. On her arrival at Kawhia several Maori women treated her for sea sickness, and she expressed her thanks by making a dress for one of the children. The Maori women were delighted. After making a dress for the chief's wife she was offered a whare by the chief , if she would trade with tribal women in dresses. Mr. and MfS. Kilgour returned to Onehunga shortly before the Waikato War broke out. They next went to live at Huia, on the Manukau Harbour, and remained there until Mr. Kilgour's death 40 years ago. Life was .strenuous in those dnys. All provisions had to be carried by the settlers themselves, and Mrs. Kilgour many a time carried on her back a 501b bag *of flour or a bag of sugar from Cornwallis to her home at Huia through a bush track, a distance of five miles. Every man that called at her home seeking work at the sawmill was taken in and given a substantial meal. Mrs. Kilgour always enjoyed remarkably good health until shortly before her death. She was the head of five generations, and her descendants numbered quite 300. Of her 14 children, seven daughters and four sons are still alive, and many grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.