DEATH OF PIONEER

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 2, 4 January 1937, Page 15

DEATH OF PIONEER

MRS. A. VELLENOWETH

Mrs. Anna Vellenowelh, who died at Mount Eden on Boxing Day in her 93th year, was born at Treworlas, Cornwall, in 1838. A few weeks after her marriage to Mr. Edward Vellenoweth in November, 1861, she sailed with him in the Chapman (Captain Harland) for New Zealand, and reached Auckland on March 17, 1862, states the "New Zealand Herald." The newcomers found the settlement suffering from a prolonged drought, which, with the exception of a few showers, lasted from November until the following June.

Soon after their arrival Mr. and Mrs. Vellenoweth acceptcd an invitation from Mr. Shipherd, of Mangere. to come to his farm near Ihumatao and obtain an insight into colonial life and farming. They travelled by way of Otahuhu in a dray, and the journey took a full day. Seven months after their arrival there the Maori War became threatening, a militia was formed, and settlers were advised to come nearer the town.

After living in Nelson Street, Auckland, for a short time, Mr. and Mrs. Vellenoweth moved to Nelson, where they spent six years. They were there during the time of the gold rush to Whakamarino and of the operations of the Maungatapu murderers, which caused such intense excitement and horror. They lived quite close to a house frequently visited by Kelly, who was considered a quiet, pleasant young fellow. Wth Mr. Flowerday, of Nelson, as a mate, Mr. Vellenoweth had considerable experience of alluvial gold mining under the very primitive conditions of those days. In 1868 Mrs. Vellenoweth and he returned to England by way of Cape Town, where their ship took on board numbers of returning miners and their wives, mostly carrying stores of gold in leather waist belts and bringing strange animal pets with them. Returning to New Zealand after three years' travel, Mr. and Mrs. Vellenoweth settled in Auckland, until in 1883 they made their home at St. Heliers Bay, where the St. Heliers Bay estate was then being cut up. It is to the public spirit and foresight of Mrs. Vellenoweth, aided by her husband, that St. Heliers now owes its waterfront parade and fine recreation grounds. Upon- the death of Mr. Vellenoweth in 1914 Mrs. Vellenoweth went to live in Parnell, until, some years ago, her failing health necessitated her having constant personal attention. She was a staunch advocate of temperance and took a keen interest in women's franchise and all progressive movements of the nineties, over lending her aid to a deserving .cause. • She is survived by one son, Captain E. C. Vellenoweth, Government resident agent at Mauke, Cook Islands, and formerly captain of the Tofua and other Union Steam Ship Company vessels, and three daughters, Mrs. B. F. Cranwell, of Henderson, Mrs. P. D. M. Poole, and Miss Vellenoweth, of Howick. There are nine grandchildren and eight great-grand-children. ~