WATCHED CITY GROW.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 236, 5 October 1937, Page 9

WATCHED CITY GROW.

MRS. ANNIE WILLIAMS. DEATH AGED NINETY-TWO. One of the oldest citizens of Auckland, Mrs. Annie Williams died this morning at the home of her daughter, Mrs. K. Hipkins, 3, Arawa Avenue, Devonport. She was 92 years of age.

Mrs. Williams had enjoyed good health until she took ill several weeke ago. She had excellent eyesight and was a frequent visitor to her many friends and relatives. Her parents cams to New Zealand in the ship Westminster and landed in Auckland on April 1, 1843. The youngest daughter. Annie, \rae born at Tangiteroria. Northern Wairoa. All her childhood years were spent in Auckland and she watched the city grow larger every year. She could recall the days when the waters of the Waitemata lapped the foot of Shortland Street and when Queen Street was crossed at Wyndham Street by a small wooden bridge. She was a spectator at the last public hanging that took place in the city, at the Auckland Gaol, then situated at the corner of Queen and Victoria Streets.

In 1860 she was married to the late Mr. H. W. Williams, of the Customs Department, and they moved to Wellington. Mrs. Williams lived there for some 20 years, until her husband was accidentally drowned. Returning to Auckland with her young family, Mrs. Williams settled in Domain Street, Devonport, and spent the last 53 years of her life in that suburb.

Surviving Mrs. Williams are nine of her ten children. They are Mrs. F. W. Cornell, Mrs. K. Hipkins. Mre. W. N. Philcox, Mre. W. Hayward and Mr*. Eric Broughton (all of Devonport). and Messre. H. W. Williams (Mount Eden). A. R. Williams (Christchurch), D. Williams (Auckland) and F. P. William* (Devonport). There are 25 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.

The funeral will take place to-mor-row at O'Neill's Point Cemetery at three o'clock.