OBITUARY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21278, 3 September 1932, Page 12

OBITUARY

MISS MARIA R. WILLIAMS DAUGHTER OF NOTED BISHOP EARLY LIFE AMONG MAORIS [I«Y TEI.EOJUI'H—PRESS association] NAPIEH, Friday The death has occurred of Miss Maria Rubo Williams, aged 89. the last surviving child of the first Bishop of Waiapu. Miss Williams was born on August 22, 1843, at Kaupapa. near Manutuke, Poverty Bay, where her father had the first mission station in the district. At that time the population of the eastern part of the island was almost entirely Maori, and when the diocese of Waiapu was formed in 1858 it consisted of the portion of the Auckland province to the east of the 176 th meridian, ihe synod ol the dioceso was a Maori one, the only Europeans sitting in it being Bishop Williams, his son, who subsequently becanio a bishop, and tlio Rev. h. B. Clarke. Miss Williams then was thoroughly familiir with the Maoris in their uncivilised state and witnessed stirring scenes of the lfauhau movement in 1865 which broke up the mission and compelled the bishop to leave Poverty Bay.

In 1868 the province of Hawke's Bay was added to the diocese of Waiapu, and Bishop Williams took up his residence in Napier, building his home, Hukarere, on tlio hill looking eastward over the sea. Ihero Miss Williams had her home ever since. She saw Napier grow from infancy. Miss Williams was of a retiring disposition, but always with her sisters took a keen interest in the development of the Hukarere Maori Girls' School, founded by her father, and other Church activities. She served for many years on the committee of the Hawke's Bay Children's Home. MR. J. McKENZIE [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] CHRISTCHURCH, Friday The death is reported of Mr. John McKen/.ie, aged 81, proprietor of the Ellosmero Arms Hotel, Tai Tapu, Christchurch, and widely known throughout New Zealand.