OBITUARY

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 37, 12 February 1926, Page 10

OBITUARY

A MANAWATU PIONEEB.

■ •■'. (By Telegraph.) (Special to"The; Evening Post.") *■ PALMEBSTON-N.,f This Day.

Another link with pioneering days of the district was severed by the death this morning of Mrs. Mary Gawith, rej lict of the late. William .James Gawith, of Fitzherbert .East, Palmerston North. Born in Kent, England, in 1843, the Jate Mrs. Gawith,. who was in her 84th year, came as ,a girl of sixteen, in. 1859, with the family of the first Bishop of Wellington, Bishop Abraham. Three years later she was: married ■to Mr.. Gawith, who arrived; from England with his parents in 1848, and engaged in the building trade in Wellington. After their marriage, however, < Mr. ■ and Mrs. Gawith ■ cama to Manawatu to resided They took up land at Fitzherbert East, where they lived for many years, becoming well known -and highly esteemed residents. •■■''They were keenly interested in the welfare of the farming . community. Mrs. Gawith. did , her share to advanc its interest.,. Begret was felt by settlers when advancing years compelled their departure to j/almerston North to live in retirement with their daughter, Mrs., Clark,; Edgeware road. Mr. Gawith passed away in November, 1923. During the last year or two Mrs. Gawith had been in ill-health, but had borne the infirmities of old age with the courage of the hardy pioneer. Deceased leaves a family of two sons and three daugniters. The sons are Messrs. C. J. Gawith (Terrace End) and H. Gawith; the daughters, Mesdames B. S. Robinson and D. Clark (Palmerston North), and Mrs. S. E. Lancaster (Whakaronga). Subsequent to Mr. Gawith's death two sons, Messrs. W. S. Gawith (Fitzherbert East) and H. H. Gawith (Wanganui), passed away. A number of grandchildren; and great-grandchil-dren also survive deceased. The sympathy of a large number of friends, both in Palmerston North and Fitzherbert, is extended to the family in its sad loss.