PASSING OF A PIONEER

Northland Age, Volume III, Issue 20, 27 May 1931, Page 4

PASSING OF A PIONEER

MRS. DINAH COULTER. The death of Mrs. Dinah Coulter which took place at Fairburn on Wednesday of last week, removed from our presence one of the oldest and most esteemed pioneer settlers of this district. Mrs, Coulter who was in her 84th year, survived her husband who died on Wednesday June Bth 1919-

Born in County Down, Ireland in 1846, and residing for a brief period in England, deceased left for New Zealand in the sailing ship “Waikato” in August of the year 1879. After a journey lasting 100 days Mrs. Coulter arrived in Auckland. In 1880 she married Thomas Coulter and on the 23rd of October of the following year thev settled in Fairburn:

The aspect of the district in those days differed vastly from what we see to-day. Roads were non-existent and the whole country side was bush clad. Some idea of the existing state of affairs in Fairburn at the time when the late Mr. and Mrs. Coulter first settled there may be conceived when one realises that the deceased’s husband walked 45 miles to his work at Kaeo and carried his provisions on his back from Mangonui. These seemingly unsurmountable difficulties did not dishearten this sturdy couple, for they struggled on and soon converted what was once a fern covered waste into a profitable crop producing farm. The late Mrs. Coulter who was in good health within a week of her death took an active and prominent part in the public and social affairs of the district especially interesting herself in Church work. Her death has cast a gloom over the settlement and will be mourned for by a large circle of friends.

The interment which took place at Fairburn on Friday was conducted by the Revs. Martin and Raynor. It was a large and representative gathering and among those who were present at the funeral was Mr. Meenin of Kaiangaroa who travelled in the sailing ship “Waikato” with the deceased when she left England. The following are the surviving members of the deceased’s family, J. P. and T. J. Coulter, Fairburns, W. H. Coulter, Wellington, 24 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.