THE PASSING OF A PIONEER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2812, 5 February 1908, Page 37

THE PASSING OF A PIONEER.

Tho funeral of Mrs Sutherland, which passed quietly through Dunedin from Lawlence recently, though not without its deep sorrow, recalled to memory stirring days and incidents— memories hat but strengthen faith and hope in the breasts of those who aie Jeft for a little while to light life's present battle. Mrs Sutherland wa. born a.t Lochbroom, Ross-shire, and in company with her husband sailed from Scotland in the Sevilla, landing at Port Chalmers late in 1859. Nine months later, in September, l£6o, her husband died, leaving her to ace life's struggle (which she nobly did) with her two children — Alexander, who died seven years ago, leaving a Jarge family, and Catherine, now Mrs Hugh Brown, of Lawrence. It was at her daughter's residence, surrounded by many homely ties and much love, that Mrs Sutherland passed away into the saints' rest. For many years Mrs Sutherland kept the Highland 'Home, a name dear to tho memory of many old settlers. The house was situated in Cumberland 6treet, and known far and wide as a place where immigrants, with thoughts of the heather hills still fresh in their memories, might come into touch with Celtic cheer and comfort. It was in reality a Highland home. Men now, who were lads then, remember listening from the surrounding hills to the pipers who. in the vicinity of the home, were wont to stir themselves and their compatriots with strains dear to soldier fcind lover. Nor was the home without its own romance : Many of the early settlers were married there, the marriages being generally conducted by Dr Stuart. A large number of families now scattered over the Dominion will have pleasant memories in this wav of the Highland Home and the \enerable doctor. One of the grey-headed mourners remembered the dav — 40 years ago — when a waggon got bogged in Cumberland street opposite Mrs Sutherland's house, and grahpicallv described the efforts of the team, breast deep in mud, to extricate it — a state .of affairs hardly imaginable in these days of macadamised roads and electricity One old olonist could only remember that even in those far distant days Mrs Sutherland took great interest in the education question and that "she was a good woman and true, who«e aid was never sought in vain, adding apolosetically, " but, this will be of little interest to the general public." Little interest indeed ; and y<^ when we come to think of it, such seltforgetting 1 kindnesses were the main factors in making southern colonisation the strand <3ncce=s it has been. Of her closinsr hours her daughter svrites : " May we all have such a peaceful end a=: she, and he iust as ready to meet tho Master." fio be it. Those who are i-eady rest well. — Contributed