OBITUARY

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 110, 11 May 1935, Page 18

OBITUARY

MRS. KATE M. EVANS *

A large circle of friends among the women who have worked, and who care for the good of humanity, will hear with sincere regret of the death of Mrs. Kate M.: Evans, a social worker and educationist of eminence both in this city,, where she lived-for many years, and throughout New Zealand. Mrs. Evans.had<a.gentle and charming personality which, in a way, masked her power and v determination to work for what was fight and just. She was not one to make any noise about her works, but they were carried through with ability and energy. She left_Weliington some years ago to take up her; residence-with her son in Dunedin, and was much missed by several working centres, and many friends.. There she passed away on May 6, in her 79th year. Mrs. Evans was the* daughter of the Rev. Samuel Edger, BA, Lon* first of the Albertland Settlement, and afterwards of Auckland. She came first into-public notice (in 1877) as Being the first woman in the British Empire to take the B.A. degree. There was not at the time any High Schcjol for girls in Auckland, so Mr. Far&uhar Macrae headmaster of the Auckland Boys' Col lege and Grammar Scaool, permitted Miss Edger to read wim the boys of his highest class. . When the Girls High School was established in Christ church (September, 1877), she was aj» pointed as first assistant In 1881 she took her MA degree from Canterbury College, and at the beginning of 188S went to Nelson as the first principal of Nelson Girls' College. She held

this post till 1890, resigning soon after her marriage to the Rev.W. A. Evans minister of thef Congregational ■ Church in Nelson. ' - •

About 1892, Mr. Evans removed tc Wellington with his family, and there started the^'Forward Movement, the aims of which were religious, philanthropic, and educational. In this Mrs. Evans rendered him valuable assistance, as also later in his work as Minister of the Congregational Church at Newtown. She carried on her work as a teacher at the same time,' having a small private school and coaching classes in her own home. Mrs. Evans was also one of the examiners in English and history for the University Entrance Examination. •

During the last twenty years of her life Mrs. Evans devoted most of; her time to the work of lie League .of Nations Union and the Women's Christian Temper'ahce Union. She was a member of the former from the time of, its formation in Wellington,.and.was, for a time, the Dominiqn'secretary. She joined the W.C.T.U. about 1913, and was for fifteen years its recording secretary. She was also associate editor of the "W^iite Ribbon" for about tea.: years, and worked actively in> the departments of scientific temperance, education,, peace, and arbitration. She was obliged to retire from active work two or three years ago, owing to failing health, but her vivid interest remained the same.' In earlier days, some 35 years ago, Mrs. Evans, was instrumental, with the late Lady Stout and Mrs. A. R. Atkinson, in founding the Society for the Health of Women and Children, a society which, is now represented in the fbur'chief centres of New Zealand, and continued the work begun with so much forethought and kindness.

Mrs. Evans will be': -long remembered for her varied and? useful work, and for her uhfailing;readiness to"serve in- any. good cause. ~ '".."■-■■-,• •

She leaves three sons, Mr. J. Evans (Pukekbhe), Mr. Elwyn Evans (Public; Works. Department), and Mr. Vryn Evans (Technical College, Wellington).