OBITUARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21098, 4 February 1932, Page 12

OBITUARY.

MRS. WILLIAM BROWN. OLDEST PANMURE RESIDENT. MEMORIES OF BISHOP SELWYN. The dei th occurred yesterday at Panniure of Mrs. William Brown, the oldest resident of the district, at the age of 90 years. Mrs. Brown spent 87 years in New Zealand, nearly all at Panmure, and had many recollections of the visits of Bishop Sehvyn to the district. ' She lived in Jellicoe Road, in a house built many years ago in the English style.

Mrs. Brown was born in a Quaker settlement in County Athlone, Ireland, and at the age of three came to New Zealand with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Sattleday, in the ship Clifton. Her father was a soldier pensioner, and for a while after their arrival the family lived at Onehunga. Then, with the opening up of new land, they moved to Panmure, living in whares built for them by the Maoris.

Mrs. Brown's recollections of early life in Auckland were remarkably clear. She remembered the demonstration in Mechanics' Bay when the ship Pandora was surrounded by canoes manned by hostile Maoris. In the centre of the native fleet was the big war canoe which is now one of the treasures of the Auckland Museum.

In 1857 Mrs. Brown was married in the old church of St. Mathias at Panmure. Mr. and Mrs. Brown lived at Kohiniarama for about five years after their marriage, befoio returning to farm at Panmure. It was while they were at Kohimarama that the mission schooner Southern Cross, with her tlag at halfmast, returned from the fateful cruise on which Bishop Patteson met his death. For Bishop Selwyn, Mrs. Brown always cherished a profound admiration. She frequently saw him tramping along the roads of the district, with a heavy swag on his back and a manuka staff. She herself walked many times to Auckland to do her shopping, carrying a heavy load of provisions back. Mr. and Mrs. Brown had a family of 13, most of whom are still alive. Mr. Brown died 28 years ago. Ihcre are many grandchildren and great-grand-children MB. ROBERT GILMER, The death of Mr. Robert Gilmer, formerly a prominent- figure on the West Coast °f lllc South Island, occurred at his residence, 2, Albion Street, I'arnell, vesterday. Mr. Gilmer was born at Castleblaney, County Monaglian, Ireland, in 1846, and arrived in New Zealand in the sixties, lie was predeceased by Mrs. Gilmer and also by his four brothers, Messrs. Hamilton, Samuel, Henry and .John Gilmer. Mr. Gilmer leaves one son, Mr. Hugh Gilmer, of Auckland.