Mangapai Pioneer Passes

Northern Advocate, 13 July 1938, Page 4

Mangapai Pioneer Passes

OBITUARY

The passing of another of Northland’s piorfeers has been recorded with the death at the Whangarei District Hospital, last night, of Mrs Sarah Ellen Miller, following an illness of a month’s duration.

The late Mrs Miller, who was in her 89th year, was born in Lincolnshire, England, and, with her parents, the late Mr and Mrs Ebenezer Carter, left London in March, 1859, for New Zealand on the sailing ship Whirlwind. They landed in Auckland, and in July of the same year came North to Mangapai, where Mr Carter took up land under rigorous pioneering conditions. Mrs Miller was the first white girl in the locality. In 1874, at Whangarei, she married Mr Peter Bulley, who, however, died a year later. In 1884 she married Mr David Miller, who predeceased her 16 years. Mr and Mrs Miller made their home at their farm, “Springfield,” Mangapai, in which district Mrs Miller identified herself very closely with the early development of the Presbyterian Church and with the social life of her day. Mrs Miller is survived by three daughters, Mrs J. Whisker, Onehunga,' Auckland, Mrs P. Carter, Mangapai, and Mrs C. Wintle, Tara, and one son, Mr J. Miller, Mangapai. A younger son met his death in a shooting accident 13 years ago. The funeral will leave the “Springfield” homestead. Mangapai South, at 10 a.m. tomorrow.