OBITUARY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 3 December 1926, Page 4

OBITUARY.

ONE OF TARANAKI’S PIONEERS. MRS. J. HAWKEN. The -death of Mrs. J. Hawken, mother of the Hon. O. .J. Hawken, Minister of Agriculture, which occurred at Wanganui oil Tuesday, marks the passing of one -of TaranaKi’e, pioneer settlers. Born in Devonshire in 1840, Mrs. Hawken was a daughter of the late Mr. Wm. Bayiy and a sister of the late Mr. Daniel Bayiy, of Wanganui. When only a year old, Mrs. Hawken arrived at New Plymouth in 1841, having voyaged with her family on the ship Amelia Thomson. At the age of 21 she was married at- New Plymouth to Mr. Joseph Hawken, and proceeded with him to Kakaramea, where they established the homestead “Fairlea” and converted a bush-covered wilderness into a model farm.

During their residence of 40 years at Kakaramea they earned the high esteem of their fellow pioneers, and the hospitality of “Fairlea” was freelyextended to travellers up and down the coast. Their eariy days there were marked by the many stirring episodes of the period. They played a worthypart in the pioneering work which which laid the foundations of the subsequent progress of the district. Mr. and Mrs. Hawken eventually removed to New Plymouth, and subsequently- to Wanganui. The late Mrs. Hawken was predeceased by her husband, and is survived by three sons: The Hon. Oswald Hawken (Minister of Agriculture), Mr. Cecil Hawken (of Mokoia). .and Mr. William Hawken (of Stratford); also by six daughters: Mrs. P. Coverdale, Mrs. F. W. Wake, Mrs. (Dr.) Wilkin (Auckland), Mrs. Gilbert Pearce, Mrs. France, and Miss Hawken (Auckland). Sincere and deep sympathy will be extended to them in their great loss. .. , *