OBITUARY

Southland Times, Issue 23531, 10 June 1938, Page 2

OBITUARY

MRS MARIE ROBERT The death has occurred of Mrs Marie Robert, of Stewart Island, at the age of 88 years. Bom at St. Malo, France, in 1850, Mrs Robert was educated at St. Malo and Paris. She married Mr Louie Robert and in September 1873 they left France and travelled to England. There they embarked on the sailing ship Surat with the intention of settling in New Zealand. The Surat left Gravesend with 300 pasesngers, including children for New Zealand. On New Year’s Eve, when the' Surat was near Bluff on the last stage of its voyage, the vessel struck a rock known at Topi Rock, on the north-eastern comer of Ruapuki Island, and was beached at Catlins River, 'pie passengers were taken to Dunedin .by the French warship Vive and Mr and Mrs Robert then decided to settle there. In 1894 they came to Stewart Island where they lived for the rest of their lives. Mr Robert died seven years ago. Mrs Robert leaves a son, Mr Victor Robert, of Dunedin, and a daughter, Mrs Robert F. Bragg, sen., of Stewart Island. COWAN SAILS The trawler Cowan, which has been sold by Urwin and Company, of Bluff, to Ferrin and Sons, Christchurch, left Bluff yesterday afternoon for Lyttelton, where she will replace the fishing trawler Muriel. The Cowan is under the command of Captain G. Mouncer, of Christchurch. Mr W. Morris is the engineer on the northwards trip. THE WEATHER The weather at Bluff yesterday was cold and stormy. Heavy showers of rain fell during the day, acompamed by a strong wind and the sea was choppy. The oyster boats remained at their moorings. There was no activity on the waterfront, the wharves having been empty since Wednesday.