OBITUARY

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXVIII, Issue 4607, 9 October 1934, Page 4

OBITUARY

MRS. JOHN SUTHERLAND.

The death took place on Sunday at her residence, Te Kuiti, of Mrs. John Sutherland, at the age of 87.

The late Mrs. Sutherland arrived at Port Chalmers with her parents as a young girl. Her father, Mr. Alexander Sutherland, was one of the ear](y pioneers of the Otago district. Shortly after their arrival Mr. Sutherland took up a block of land at Milburn, south of Dunedin, and the family experienced all the hardships of the pioneers of those days; the late Mrs. Sutherland also used to speak of the exciting days of the Gabriel's Gully gold rush, when thousands of men treked to the famous field. Later on Mrs. Sutherland married Mr. John Sutherland, of Waitahuna, some 20 miles from her father's home. Mr. and Mrs. Sutherland spent over 40 years on their farm, after which Mr. John Sutherland retired from active' farming and the couple took up their residence at Te Kuiti, where Mr. John Sutherland died some 15 years ago. The late Mrs. Sutherland was always a keen worker in social welfare activities, especially in regard to young people, and was a strong supporter of the Presbyterian Church. Her kindly and sympathetic nature and cheerful personality made her many friends wherever she resided. Notwithstanding her age Mrs. Sutherland retained all her faculties up to end and took a keen interest in current topics, and her passing removes another of those strong and kindly personalities who helped to pioneer this colony.

Two of Mrs. Sutherland's family predeceased her. Those member who survive to mourn their loss are Dr. W. Sutherland (Lawrence), Mr. Alex. Sutherland (Te Kuiti), Mrs. J. Auld (New Plymouth), Mrs. W. Smith (Putumahoe) Mrs. Oudaille (Otorohanga), Mrs. W. Auld. (Auckland), Mrs. J. B. Thompson (Timaru), and Mrs. A. Auld (Pukerimu).