OBITUARY.

Colonist, Volume XXXIV, Issue 7048, 26 June 1891, Page 3

OBITUARY.

THS LATE MBS ANN BIBD.

The announcement of the death of Mrs Ann Bird, whioh took place early yesterday morning, was received with a widespread feeling of deep regret. In her loss yet another of the first of the Nelson settlera has left a vaoant place, and the small circle of survivors of the passengers by tbe first vessel after the arrival of the expedition ships is materially narrowed by her death. It was on the 31st January, 1842, that Mrs Bird arrived in Nelson by the ship Fif eshire, ahd on the Ist of February she stepped foot on New Zealand soil, being one of the first white women to land in Kelson. By the same ve.sel there arrived, amongst others, Mr I. M. Hill, Mr J. Poynter, and Mr J. Simmonds, all of whom have departed this life, as well as Mr Alfred Saunders, and a few other sarvivors. Mrs Bird, with her husband and the two ohildren she then had, had their first home in New Zealand in a building of raupo and toi toi, which stood a little northerly of the Bank of New South Wales, and subsequently they lived near the site of tbe present Jam Factory, but their residence there was carried away by the Maitai Biver in a time of flood. After that they lived in Bridge street, but for over forty years the deceased bad lived within a few feet of tbe same spot in central Trafalgar street. Having experienced her full share of the trials, hardships, and difficulties of the early settlers, Mrs Bird lost her husband some nine years after arriving in Nelson, but being courageous and active Bhe. toiled on for herself and ohildren, and for some forty years carried on the batchers shop which was gradually improved as time proceeded. Until qnite recently she continued to take an active part in the business, bnt with all the claims on her time and attention she never forgot those in sickness and distress. Born at Handsworth, near Birmingham, in 1818, the deceased had attained the honorable age of 73. and she left surviving her two sons and two daughters, t& well as many grandchildren and great grandchildren. For tbe sorrowing ones very general sympathy will be felt.