MRS C. RONALDSON.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7937, 10 August 1891, Page 3

MRS C. RONALDSON.

One by one slowly but surely the old colonists who came hither in the now historical first four ships are passing away. Last week another joined the great majority in the person of Mrs Catherine Ronaldson, the sister of another well known old colonist, Mr John Miln. Mrs Ronaldson, who was born in Perthshire, came to Canterbury in the Sir George Seymour, one of the first four ships, arriving here on the 16th December, 1850. Early in her colonial career Mrs Ronaldson made the acquaintance of Mr and Mis John Anderson, sen., a friendship which lasted uninterruptedly until the close of her life. In 1851 Mrs Ronaldson's brother, Mr John Miln, arrived and bought land on the.Lincoln road, and she resided with him nntil 1858, when she left for Scotland to marry the Rev. James Ronaldson, United Presbyterian minister of Longridge Church, near Whitburn, Scotland. She continued to reside with her husband at Longridge till 1886, taking a warm interest in educational matters connected with the district, also with things political in supporting Mr Maclagan, the Liberal member in the House of Commons for Linlithgow County, who held both her and her bushand in great esteem for their liberal support whilst contesting the election for the County against the Conservative candidate. On Rev. Mr Ronaldson falling into ill health he resigned his charge, and along with his wife and family came to Lyttelton in the ship Dunedin in January, 1887, and proceeded to occupy their farm of 400 acres at Hororata, which was purchased twentyfive years before. In the beginning of January last, Mrs Ronaldson was taken with a severe illness, but rallied sufficiently to be about again until about seven weeks ago, when she again took to her bed, and died on Saturday last. Her funeral took place on Wednesday last, and was attended to the Hororata Cemetery by a very large number of settlers in the neighbourhood, and some of her old friends from Christchurch. The funeral services were performed by the Rev. Mr Maxwell, minister in the district, and Rev. Dr. Elmslie, of Christchurch, and the Rev. Mr Hodgson also attended. Mrs Ronaldson was very much loved and respected for her cheerful happy disposition and kind sympathy among the people in her neighbourhood, which was reciprocated by their kind assistance and attention in her deep distress. She leaves two sons and one daughter, the daughter and elder son being married.