NINETIETH BIRTHDAY.
MRS. M. A. WHITCOMBE. EARLY TARANAKI WAttS. Reminiscences of her eventful life in the pioneering days, the anxieties endured tlir.ui-ln.nl the 10-yeiir period of the Maori Wars in Taranaki. and experiences in the old-time sailinjr shins in which she made trip* to via Cape Horn on three occasions, were related on her ninetieth birthday yesterday by .Mrs. .Mary Archer YVhiti-ombe, of Nortluote.
The daughter of Mr. R.-njamin Wells, she was brought at the ti-re of three from her birthplace, l'lumstead. near Woolwich. Kent, to Auckland in the sailinjr ship Lord William Hentinck (Captain C'aiiuey) in December. 1 S»"> 1 .
and landed at Now Plymouth. The family settled on a farm* in the vicinity of -New Plymouth until the troublous times occasioned by the outbreak of war. Mrs. Whitcombe clearly remembers the Maori chief Wiremu Kingi. a ringleader in some fearful battle*, and recalls that the women and children, during the battle of Waireka, were forced to take refuge i n the barracks on Maryland Hill, being later removed to XHson until the situation had calmed clown sufficiently to allow of their departure to safety At the age of 15 Mrs. Whitcombe was sent to England to be educated, the voyage being made in the sailing ship Ida /eigler, and after two years at a girls' college in London, the return trip was made in the same vessel Her marriage to Mr. Charles Douglas Whitcombe took place «t Xew Plymouth on November 15, 1871, Archdeacon Uovett officiating. Mrs. Whitcombe. who lives with her younger daughter. Mrs. K. Harrington Snow, in Waimana Avchmc, Xortheote received congratulations from many callers and a ]* n numerous messages Her other daughter is Mrs. A. Cowie of Xortheote. Her five sons are Messrs Francis S. Whitcombe (Fiji), Chas. A. Whitcombe (Auckland). Fred X Whitcombe (Xew Plymouth). Henrv K Whitcombe (Auckland) and John D Whitcombe (Devonpoit). There are 22 grandchildren and also many -r,eatgrandchildren. J e «™i
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Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 223, 20 September 1938, Page 14
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321NINETIETH BIRTHDAY. Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 223, 20 September 1938, Page 14
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