THE FIRST WHITE WOMAN BORN IN NEW ZEALAND.
(To the Editor.) Sir,—Regarding the controversy as to the' first white woman born in this country, I believe Mr YY . Clarke is correct in stating that to Mrs Hannah King Letheridge, late of Te.Puna, Bay of Islands, this honour belonged. She was born on January 11, 1816, died on April 14, 1907, at the age of 91, and was buried in the Russell Cemetery. I knew Mrs Letheridge quite well 20 years ago, and frequently visited her. She did not claim to be the first white child born in New Zealand, for that distinction belonged to a eon of the Rev. John King, if I remember correctly, but he died in infancy. She was, however, as her tombstone states, the first white woman born in New Zealand.
Were’Mrs Letheridge living still she would be 109 years old, so some of the claimants for the distinction in question are a long way behind. —T am, C. ROBERTS. Mannia.
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Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 19 February 1925, Page 7
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165THE FIRST WHITE WOMAN BORN IN NEW ZEALAND. Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 19 February 1925, Page 7
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