EARLY MISSIONARY DAYS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19371, 8 July 1937, Page 6

EARLY MISSIONARY DAYS

ASSOCIATION SEVERED DEATH UP MRS. TV ATKINS SO YEARS IN DOMINION An association with early missionary days in New Zealand was severed yesterday with the death at her residence in Mangapapa of Mrs. Edith Mary Watkins, widow of the late Mr. Edward Reginald Watkins, Auckland. The deceased, who was born in the Bay of Islands 80 years ago, was a daughter of the late Mr. James Kemp, a farmer of North Auckland, who was attached to the .Anglican Mission. Her paternal grandfather was Mr. James Kemp, sen., a blacksmith by trade, who landed at the Bay of Islands in 1818. Mr. James Kemp, sen., was attached to the Anglican Mission as a catechist and became New Zealand's first farmer. His plough was handed over to the Old Colonists’ Museum in Auckland last year by a sister of Mrs. Watkins. The deceased’s two sisters, the Misses C. and G. Kemp, reside at Kerikeri in the oldest house in New Zealand.

It is interesting to note that Sophia, the once famous guide of Rotorua, was named after Mrs. Watkins’ mother, whose maiden name was Sbphia Davies. The guide Sophia as a girl was a member of the household at the mission station at Kerikeri when the Rev. Richard Davies was in charge. The late Mrs. Watkins passed the earlier years of her life at Kerikeri, and on her marriage to Mr.. Watkins moved to Auckland. Following the death of her husband many years ago she came to live in Gisborne, where she had resided ever since.,

An ardent student of Maori, Mrs. Watkins spoke the language fluently. Throughout her life she took a keen interest in the work of the, Anglican Church. .

The deceased is survived by one son, Mr. Rex Watkins, Tolaga Bay, and tkiee daughters, Mrs. E. Matthews, Wellington, the Misses Hilda and Christine Watkins, Mangapapa. She leaves also five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.' The interment took place at the Taruheru cemetery this afternoon.