OBITUARY

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 124, 11 May 1935, Page 6

OBITUARY

Mrs. Kate M. Evans, M.A.

Mrs Kate M. Evans, M.A., one of the best known women in New Zealand, especially in educational circles, passed away on May C at her son’s residence in Dunedin in her 79th year. She was the third daughter of the Rev. Samuel Edger, B.A. (Lond.), first of the Albertland settlement, and afterwards of Auckland. She arrived in New Zealand in 1862, and first came into public notice in 1877 as the first woman in the British Empire to take the B.A. degree. There was then not even a high school for girls in Auckland, so Mr Farquhar Macrae, head master of the Auckland Boys’ College and Grammar School, permitted Miss Edger to read with the boys of his highest class. When the Girls’ High School was established in Christchurch in September, 1877, she was appointed first assistant. In 1881 she took her M.A. degree from Canterbury College, and at the beginning of 1883 went to Nelson as the first principal of the Nelson Girls’ College. She held this post till 1890, resigning soon after her marriage to the Rev. W. A. Evans, minister of the Congregational Church in Nelson. About 1892 Mr Evans removed to Wellington with his family, and there started the Forward Movement, whose aims were religious, philanthropic ano educational. In this Mrs Evans rendered him most valuable assistance, as also later in his work as minister of the Congregational Church in Newtown. At the same time she continued her work as teacher, carrying on a small private school and coaching classes in her own home. She also for a number of years acted as one of the examiners in English and history for the university entrance examination. During the last twenty years of her life Mrs Evans was chiefly devoted to the work of the League of Nations Union and of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union. She was a member of the former from the time of its formation in Wellington, and was for a number of years the Dominion secretary. She joined the Women's Christian Temperance Union about 1913, and for about fifteen years was the Dominion recording secretary. She was also associate editor of the “White Ribbon’’ for about ten years, and worked actively in the departments of scientific temperance, education and of peace and arbitration. She w'as obliged to retire from active work two or three years ago, owing to failing health. She will long be remembered for the varied and useful work that she did, and for her unfailing readiness to serve in any good cause.

She leaves three sons, Mr Jim Evans, of Pukekohe, Mr Elwyn Evans, of the Public Works Department, Dunedin, and Mr Vryn Evans, of the Technical College, Wellington.

Mr. James Russell

Advice by private cablegram from London notifies the death there on May 1 of Mrs James Russell who was formerly a well-known resident of Auckland. She was the youngest daughter of the late Mr S. Browning, one of the original directors of the Bank of New Zealand. She was married to the late Mr James Russell, a partner in the legal firm of Jackson and Russell. She was born in Auckland, but lived in England for some 30 years. She is survived by the following children: Lady Ilardwiche, Mrs Hudson and Mrs Muir, all living in England.