DEATH AT 94 YEARS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21396, 20 October 1934, Page 15

DEATH AT 94 YEARS

MRS. JOHANNA WALLACE ADVENTURES WITH MAORIS MEMORIES OF WHALING DAYS A .nonagenarian who lived in New Zealand for 74 years, Mrs. Johanna Wallace, died at the residence of her grandson, Mr. Daniel Gough, -54 Marlborough Street, Dominion Koad, yesterday, at the age of ( J4 years. She had vivid recollections of the early whaling days, having acted as companion to the wife of the master of a whaling vessel for several trips. Born at Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Mrs. Wallace arrived in New Zealand in the sailing vessel Helen Lewis in 1860 with her parents and for some time lived at Omaha. She was married at Auckland to Mr. James Wallace, who had been first mate on the vessel on which she had travelled from Nova Scotia. After the loss of her husband in 18(57 Mrs. Wallace lived at Waipu until about 30 years ago, when she came to reside with her family in Auckland. Mrs. Wallace had many anecdotes to tell of the Maoris in the early days at Omaha. On one occasion a party „of natives entered the house while she was alone and dressed themselves in I European finery they took from boxes. Finally, however, she persuaded them to leave by brandishing a broom. Mrs. Wallace had the misfortune to lose people dear to her in two separate sea tragedies. While she was still a young woman her father, sister and three other near relatives were lost at sea in a vessel carrying timber on a trip from Omaha to Auckland. A few years later the ship of which her husband was eantain, the William Pope, was lost with all hands in the Fiji Islands. It was never known what happened to either vessel. Mrs. Wallace, who is survived by a daughter. Mrs. Gough, three grandchildren and seven (Treat-grandchildren, retained all her faculties until her death and lived an active life until a few months ago.