OBITUARY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 204, 29 July 1939, Page 13

OBITUARY.

MRS M. A. ALLEN. There passed away at 24 Pirie Street, Palmerston North, on the evening of July 14. IDHD, Airs Alary Ann Allen, widow of Air Alfred Allen, who predeceased her in February, 1935. Airs Allen, who was married at Greytown in 1881, came to Palmerston North with her husband 50 years ago, ami had since resided here. A devoted wife and mother, who will lie greatly missed by her family, she lived a very unselfish, Christian life, always placing the welfare of others first. A groat worker among the sink and suffering wherever she knew there was a need, she visited the Hospital every week for about 25 years with Gospel literature and fruit and flowers, cheering and helping many a lonely patient. Tlie late Airs Allen found plenty of scope for activity in Sunday School teaching and sewing for years for missions abroad, a* long as her health permitted she had borne with patience and fortitude many serous illnesses during the past 24 years, and for eighteen rnontlis had been a confirmed invalid. Born in Greytown ill 1860. Airs Allen was a daughter of the b’te Mr T. Kempton, who arrived at Wellington in 1844 on the ship Adelaide and migrated to Greytown after an eventful journey over the I’miutaka Hill, which was then in its pure native state, w'th only a poorly-beaten bridle track. The first pile driven for the old Queen’s Wharf at Wellington was cut from a. tree felled bv _ Air Kenipton in 1862. the timber bring hauled over the Ifimutakas by stages. Mr Kempton was the first white man to climb the Tnrarua ranges as a prospector, and claimed to have turned the first «od w’th .a spade in the Grevtown district. Air Kempton. an enthusiast in horticulture, was a real pioneer and an active member of the first- Borough Council, in which lie held office for many years. He was also a member of tlm' oM Feather-ton Highway Board. He once offered to donate 50 acres of land at .Moron for the erection of Parliament Buildings, hut Cabinet did not accept it. Airs Kemr+on was a- daughter of Air and Airs AY. Hodder, of Featherstou. There are left to mourn the late Mrs Allen’s passing a familv of two ,s A ns and four daughters. They are Air A. E. Allen (Park Road, Palmerston North), AD- A. AV. Allen (Cambridge St'-opf, Leyiiit Airs 11. R. Har’-ey (Hataitni. AVellmgtnn), Airs E. C. AVliito (Russell Street, Pal-

merston North), Airs A. G. I’egler I (Allred Street; and Miss L. Allen I (Pirie Street). There are 18 grandI children and four great grand-children. AIRS At. E. BROWNE. A residence of 90 years in New Zealand was terminated on Monday last with the death of Airs Alary Elizabeth Browne, of Frederick Street, Palmerston North, and her passing removed another of the now rapidlydiminishing links with the Dominion’s early pioneers. Airs Browne was a daughter of the late Mr George Stratton, who arrived in New Zealand in 1841 with his parents, the late Air and Airs Thomas Stratton, on the Lady Nugent. This old pioneer family made its first home in a mud wliare in what was then known as Buller Paddock, between Chuznec and Ingest re Streets, AA’ellington. Subsequently the deceased lady’s father purchased a property in Cuba Street, AYellington. After the death ol" Air George Stratton the family removed to the Hutt A’alley. This was then chiefly virgin hush, and the work of the white people in clearing the land was hampered considerably by the attitude of the Natives. It was here that tlm family carved out their home, showing that indomitable spirit of the true pioneer which played so largo a part in the development of the country. After her marriage Airs Browno resided in AYellington until her husband, an engineer, secured a position with the railway workshops at Eastown, AYanganui. Later she accompanied her husband to the Tokomaru district, where ho was engaged in dairy farming some years before retiring to Fitzherbert Avenue, Palmerston North, j about 20 years ago. Mrs Browne is survived by two (laughters—Miss S. Browne (Palmerston North) and Airs J. Stobie (New Plymouth)—and one son —Air Alfred , Browne (Palmerston North). There are three sisters—Mrs F. Edkin (Lower Hutt), Airs F. AYnters (Nelson) and Mrs C. Gosman (AYellington) 1 —and a brother—Air G. Stratton j (Levin). There are also 12 great-grand-children.

AIRS LETJTIA AHERN. (From Our Own Correspondent.) FOXTON, .Inly 29. The death occurred in the Palmerston North Hospital on Wednesday morning of one of Fox ton’s oldest and most highly respected residents, Airs Letitia Ahern. Born in the North of Ireland in 1854. she fame out to the Dominion as a girl of 17 in the sailing ship Waikato, which took six months to make, the voyage. Arriving at Lyttelton, deceased lived at Christchurch for a tunc and was married

there two years after her arrival to the late Air John Ahern, who was one of ihoso in laying the first sleepers on the Waimate railway line. After a time Air and Airs Ahern moved to the North Island, where Air Ahern was ngaged on plate laying on the old Alanawatu line. Subsequently lie followed the trade of a wheelwright and lived at Alasterton and Wellington, but in 18»9 Mr and Mrs Ahern took up tlieir residence in Foxton, and until a fortnight prior to her death, deceased lived at her home in Avenue Road. Throughout the half-cen-tury residence in F'oxtoiii, she enjoyed good health u.nd her death followed a short illness. She was predeceased by her husband sixteen years ago. She loaves one daughter, Airs A. IC. Dunn, of Avenue Road, and four grandchildren and six groat grandchildien.