REUNITED AT LAST

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 8055, 8 March 1912, Page 1

REUNITED AT LAST

MOTHER AND DAUGHTER SEPARATED BY FATHER FOR NINE YEARS. REAL LIFE ROMANCE. PRESS ASSOCIATION. AUCKLAND. March 7. A cablegram received yesterday stated that a pathetic meeting bad occurred between a Mrs Kilbourne. ol Tacoma (U.S.A.), and her daughter, who was taken away from her-mother nine years ago. Eventually the British Consular authorities ..located the girl in Auckland. \ , , ~ , Inquiry this morning indicated that the information contained in the cable message is substantially correct., the American Consul, at Auckland, .when seen on the subject, stated that as the result of inquiries made by. him through the Consular agencies the mother and daughter had, after man> years, been brought together; The name of the parties .concerned was .Petersen, and probably a second marriage accounts for the name Kilbourne used in the cable. Miss'Petersen,' who was only eighteen years of age, had communicated with him some time ago, and having told him her story Mr Prickitt communicated with the British Vice-Consul at Tacoma (Washington State), and had the satisfaction of receiving a cable in reply, stating that the mother/- had been found and had immediately made arrangements for her daughter joining her. *' , , : ■ ' ~, . A member of the Chnstadelphian Society, of which Miss Petersen and her. father were members, was able to relate further particulars to‘ a reporter. It is,, now some nure or ten years ago since 'father and daughter/ arrived in Auckland from America, and - when they took up their ■ residence in this city they assumed' the name of Williams, by which they were kdown all the time they were in Auckland. -Miss Petersen was then only a little over eight years of age, and both were very, reticent regarding their previous movements. . ‘ ' 1 ■

The father established a small photographic studio in .Upper Queen street, near the' Town Mall, and' for about ten years carried on business-there. His death took place early in ■ the prc-. sent year very suddenly, his daughter finding him dead in bed one morning.. ' A letter was then found amongst deceased’s - effects, disclosing his ‘life’s story and the fact ..that the mother was probably still'alive in America, but would be quite unaware as to -whether her daughter still lived or in what country she resided.' A wish was' also expressed by the - father that in the event of his death his daughter should, endeavour to ; find her mother and;return to her. ■

Miss ' Petersen, who by now; ; ; had grown to be a handsome young woman of eighteen years of age,: sought the assistance of the American Consul,; with the result that, as above indicated, mother and daughter - are 1 at last united: ■ ,