DEATH OF PIONEER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20256, 16 May 1929, Page 10

DEATH OF PIONEER.

STIRRING DAYS RECALLED. — * MRS. RACHEL MOON, OF RAGLAN. [BY telegraph.—own CORRESPONDENT.] RAGLAN, Wednesday. The death has occurred at Raglan of Mrs. Rachel Moqn, widow of the late Mr. Georgo Moon, in her 99 year. Born at Loch Rannock, Perthshire, on July 19, 1830, she was the eldest daughter of Mr. Gregor McGregor. She came to Sydney with her parents when only five years of age. Her father's first position in Sydney was the charge of a gang of convicts who were working for the Government carpenters. He was only there a short time when he was sent to New Zealand to obtain spars for the Admiralty. He brought his family with him and arrived at liawhia about 1838. In 1839 the family went to Northern Wairoa, and settled at Mangawhare. Members of the family lived in the Northern Wairoa district until Mr, John McGregor, the last of Mrs. Moon's brothers, died about six years ago. When Mr?. Moon came to New Zealarid as a little girl she could only speak Gaelic. The next language she learned was Maori, and she became an expert Maori linguist. She often spoke of the Rev. Buller, the well-known missionary, who was one of the nearest neighbours of the McGregors. She was a very powerful swimmer, and saved three lives from drowning in the Wairoa River. On May 10, 1862, she was married i n Auckland to Mr. George Moon, of Raglan, and formerly of New Plymouth. The Rev. D. Bruce performed the ceremony. Mrs. Moon came with her husband to Ragian immediately after her marriage, and had lived here ever since, with the exception of the year 1863 when, during the Maori War, all women were ordered to Auckland. In the oid days she was a good shot with the rifle and shotgun. Up to within a few weeks of her death she could be seen each day taking a walk in the town.