PIONEER PASSES
MRS KING : NONOGENARIAN 71 YEARS IN WHANGAREI DISTRICT. One of the oldest identities of the North, in the person of Mrs Sarah Elizabeth King, aged 94 years, passed away yesterday. Born at Dunstable, Bedfordshire, deceased married the late Mr William King, who was a sergeant of police. Shortly afterwards they left for New Zealand in the Lancashire Watch, which, with the Resolute, brought out a large number of immigrants, many of whom came to Whangarei. Among those who settled permanently here at that time were Mr and Mrs King and Messrs Cheesman, Taylor, Burroughs, Thomas (2), Mulvaney, Nobes, Logie, McConnell and Mrs Cannon.
The voyage to New Zealand was a sad one for the King’s because during it they witnessed a funeral at sea—that of their first born son. Landing in Auckland in 1865 they came North almost immediately the voyage up the coast, against headwinds and calms, taking seven days. Their first home here was on an acre plot adjoining the property now owned by Hoey Bros. Shortly afterwards they moved to Ruatangata, then in the infancy of settlement, and here .they established a fine farm, combating the vicissitudes of remoteness in doing so. After the death of her husband 33 years ago, Mrs King went to reside with her son at Kamo.
She retained her faculties in a marvellous manner. Despite her great age she was able to read without the aid of spectacles and took a very keen interest in current happenings. Of a very kindly disposition she devoted her whole attention to the rearing of a large family, no small contract in those times of scattered population and poor communication. 01 her family of thix-teen, three sons have predeceased her. Those living arc: Mesdames F. Thomassen (Towai), J. J. Thorburn (Kamo), M. Thorburn (Riponui), E. Goodhue (Tamarere), J. McKinnon (Whangarei), F. C. Attwood (Ngararatunua) and A. G. Attwood (Tamaterau), and Messrs W. King (Kamo), and J. and G. King (Riponui). The funeral will leave the residence of Mr F. C. Attwood, Ngararatunua, for Kamo Cemetery, at 2 p.m. tomorrow.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NA19360103.2.54
Bibliographic details
Northern Advocate, 3 January 1936, Page 6
Word Count
345PIONEER PASSES Northern Advocate, 3 January 1936, Page 6
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