OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 259, 31 July 1939, Page 13

OBITUARY

Mrs. M. E. Brown A daughter of one of the earliest pioneers, Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Brown, Frederick Street, Palmerston North, died last week in her ninety-first year, says a “Dominion.’’ Special Service message. She was a daughter of the late Mr. George Stratton, Lower Hutt, who arrived in New Zealand with his parents and brothers and sister, ’ in the Lady Nugent,’ in 1841. The family first lived in a mud whare in what was then known as Buller Paddock, between Ghuznee and Ingestre Streets, Wellington. Later, Mr. George Stratton purchased the property where the People's Palace now stands, in Cuba Street. After his death the family moved to the Hutt Valley, where they carved out their farmlands from the bush, a process which was not always made easier by the Maoris. For some time after her marriage, Mrs. M. E. Brown lived in Wellington, till her husband, an engineer, secured a position in the railway workshops in Eastown, Wanganui. After dairyfarming in the Tokomaru district for some time, Mr. and Mrs. Brown returned to Fitzherbert Street, Palmerston North, 20 years ago, following a period in New Plymouth. Mrs. Brown is survived by her three children, Miss S. Brown, , Frederick Street, Palmerston North, Mrs. J. S-to-bie, New Flymouth, and Mr. Alfred Brown, Palmerston North. Mrs. F. Eelkin, Lower Hutt, Mrs. F. Waters, Nelson, and Mrs. C. Gosman, Wellington, are sisters, and Mr. George Stratton, Levin, is a brother. There are 12 great-grandchildren.

Mr. W. H. Cummins

The death occurred in Wellington last week, after a short Illness, of Mr. William Henry Cummins, aged 73. Born in Lyttelton in 1866, Mr. Cummins arrived in Wellington in 188-1, to join the engineering firm of John Luke and Son. He was in the company's service till 1914, when he was engaged by the Wellington Gas Company, with whom he remained till the time of his death. He was well known in musical circles in Wellington, having conducted the Newtown and Johnsonville bands, as well as the Wellington Working Men’s Club Orchestra. He was a member of the Wellington Garrison Band, playing solo trombone during many of its successful contesting years. He was the first New Zealand bandsman to win the Australian trombone championship at Bathurst (N.S.W.), in 1899. Other solo wins to his credit were in Napier in 1898, and Palmerston North in 1899. Mr. Cummins leaves a widow, four sous,, and four daughters. Messrs. C. J. Cummins and F. C. Cummins, Wellington, H. Cummins, Lower Hutt, and C. T. Cummins, Auckland, are sons, and Mrs. N. Cooper, Miss M. Cummins, and Mrs. E. Brown, Wellington, and Mrs. W. Blick, Nelson, are daughters.