DEATHS OF OLD COLONISTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16924, 9 August 1918, Page 6

DEATHS OF OLD COLONISTS.

MRS. MARY JANE MAYS. Another of the fast-diminishing band of New Zealand's pioneers passed away suddenly yesterday at Devonport in tie per. ; son of Mrs. Mary Jane Maya, widow oI the lato Mr. Oliver Mays, one of Auck--1; land's best-known publio men. Mrs Mayj ; arrived at Auckland from England in 1860, i and joining her husband here went to reI eido at Vi ©odsido, near Papatoetoe. The , advance of th? rebel Maoris intojthe Lower Waikato, however, necessitated the hur. ried removal of all the women and children from tlie outlying districts into Auckland. Mrs. Mays, and those in the samo ! conveyance with her, wore fired upon anci pursued by the natives, and escaped with i difficulty. She resided at Devonport sines 1 1 1863, and was closely identified with the ,: progress of that suburb. Her name has teen lons associated with many kindly . acta ana benevolent movements. Mis, Maya had just entered upon her E3rd year, I I and practically to tho end appeared to re- ; ; tain the vigour and good health which 1 1 characterises the early colonists. She is 1 1 survived by her one sister, four daughters, and four sons. The youngest son,' Mr. Arthur Mays, has been at the front | for the past three years. Another son, Mr. J. P. Mays was killed in the Boer war whilst serving with the New Zealand Field Artillery. Other sons are Mr! j Selwyn Mays, of Auckland, Mr. T. C. i Mays, of To Aroha, and Mr. H. Mays, Mount Albert. v MRS. IJMMA NICHOLSON. The death of Mrs. Emma Nicholson, widow of the late Mr. William Nicholson, which occurred yesterday at her red-, dence, Pitt Direct, removes yet another old Mrs. Nicholson arrived in I New Zealand with her band from Calii fornia 62 ye ire ago, and settled at Mani gonui, where Mr. Nicholson engaged in , fanning. The family removed to Auckland 50 years ago, and Mrs. Nicholson rcsidod in tho house they originally occupied until her death, at the age "of 69. She is survived by eight children , —four eons and four daughters— 1 23 grandchildren, and 18 * great grandchildren. Two daughters • are un married, and the other two are Mrs. H. Taylor, of Wellington, and Mre. W. D. Buttle, of Mount Eden. The sons are Mr. W. F. Nicholson, of Mangawhwe, Kaipara, Mr. Charles Nicholson, of New. ton, Mr. Oliver Nicholson, Auckland, a.'id Mr. Alfred Nicholson, of Wanganui.