ONLY ONE SURVIVOR LEET

Taranaki Daily News, 5 September 1932, Page 5

ONLY ONE SURVIVOR LEET

AMELIA THOMPSON PIONEERS MRS. R. W. GREENWOOD, HAWERA. 91ST.- - ANNIVERSARY OF ARRIVAL. Only one survivor remains of the pioneers who arrived at New Plymouth by the barque Amelia Thompson on September 3, 1841—91 years ago on Saturday. She is Mrs. R. W. Greenwood, Hawera. A congratulatory telegram was sent her by the Mayor of New Plymouth, Mr. H. V. S. Griffiths, on Saturday in the. following terms: .“The citizens of New Plymouth extend to you their congratulations and good wishes on this the 91st anniversary of your arrival in the Amelia Thompson.” A telegram was later received by Mr. Griffiths in reply. It read: “Many thanks for congratulations. Still hale and hearty. H. Greenwood.”

A year ago there were two survivors, but Mrs. A.. Telfar, Urenui, has since died. When the 90th. anniversary was celebrated at New Plymouth on September 3 last year by a gathering of about 200 descendants of the pioneers of' the Amelia Thompson it was only ill-fortune that prevented both Mrs. Telfar and Mrs. Greenwood from being present. Mrs. Telfar was confined to her bed following an accident and Mrs. Greenwood had contracted influenza. Mrs. Greenwood is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Oxenham and has now

reached the age of 94. Her home has been at Wanganui for some years but she is now back in Taranaki and is staying at Hawera.

The Amelia Thompson, of 840 tons, was dispatched from Plymouth, Devon, for New Plymouth under the command of Captain tyilli a-m Dawson on March 25, 1841. She took ov.er five months to reach New Plymouth but the voyage was very pleasant. The vessel anchored in Port Nicholson on August 2 and arrived at the New Plymouth roadstead, on September 3. The weather was stormy and Captain Dawson put to sea every time the sky threatened, going out so far that he could scarcely get back again before the fine weather was over. In consequence the unloading of the Amelia Thompson occupied a considerable time.