Obituary

Manawatu Times, Volume LVI, Issue 7064, 25 January 1933, Page 2

Obituary

MRS. M. L. MCKINNON The death occurred at Palmerston North on Saturday of Mrs. May Louisa McKinnon, a daughter ■of one of Canterbury's earliest pioneers.. Deceased came to Now Zealand as a child in 1856, from Birmingham, Yorkshire, in the sailing ship Mermaid. Tho new settlers landed at Lyttelton and Mr. and Mrs. Bowman, the deceased’s parents, then tramped over tho hills to Christchurch, whero a camp was pitcliod in what is now know'n as Hagley Park, prior to establishing their first sod homo at Eiccarton. In those early days Christchurch was a small settlement and almost totally roadless. In 1876 Miss Bowman married and continued to reside in Christchurch, her husband being engaged as a contractor, and in tho ensuing years Mr. Bowman played a largo part towards roading the fast growing town, and, indeed, tho outlying routes as far afield as tho West Coast. Mrs. Bowman thus experienced many of the hardships of the early pioneers. Mr. and Mrs. McKinnon continued to rcsido .in Christchurch until sorno seven or eight years ago when they came to Palmerston North where throe members of their family had taken up their residence. Mr. McKinnon predeceased his wife about three years ago and Mrs. McKinnon was laid to rest alongside her husband in tho Palmerston North cemetery ou Sunday, Eev. Canon Woodward conducting tho service. Tho death of Mrs. McKinnon marks the passing of tho last of the family which landed at Lyttelton over 72 years ago, although two fellow travellers in Mrs. A. Burges, of i’eathcrston street, and Mr. Pi ml lay, of Lombard street, are residents of Palmerston North. There are left to mourn their loss a family of four adults, the members being Mrs. A. Thompson, of 49 Cuba street, Palmerston North; Mrs. J. Boldt, of Foxton line, Palmerston North; and Mrs. C. Bowman, of Christ-, church, and Mr. D. McKinnon, of: 27 Lombard streot, Palmerston North, while thero are 12 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. It. is interesting to note that the deceased was related to the world • famous aviatrix, Miss Amy Johnson, the latter’s father and Mrs. McKinnon being cousins, both being natives of Bridlington, Yorkshire.