47 YEARS AT TARATA

Taranaki Daily News, 15 October 1934, Page 4

47 YEARS AT TARATA

DEATH OF MRS. R. PATERSON, SNR. REPUTATION AS “BUSH DOCTOR.” The death occurred at Tarata yesterday of Mrs. Margaret Paterson, wife of Mr. Robert Paterson, snr., Tarata. Mrs. Paterson, who was 76 years of age, had been in failing health for some time. Mrs. Paterson, together with her husband and three children, came out from Scotland and settled at Wanganui in 1884. Three years later Mr. Paterson secured a section of 316 acres at the comer of the Junction and Toetoe Roads just on the Tarata side of the zigzag. During the 47 years of her life in the district, Mrs. Paterson earned the respect of the whole of the InglewoodTarata district. She was a pioneer m the full sense of the word and bore her share of the. hardships that beset the early settler. Mrs. Paterson took a keen interest in everything pertaining to the district. During the earlier days she won the respect of all by her kindness and sympathy. She was often called upon in cases of emergency or sickness and gained a reputation as a backcountry doctor.” Of a family of nine Mrs. Paterson is survived by three daughters and four sons and her husband, who will be 82 years old in November. The surviving members of the family are Mesdames C. Western (Kent Road) and A. Huggett (Kent Road), Miss C. Paterson (Tarata), Messrs. William Paterson (Tarata), Dougal Paterson (Tarata), John Paterson (Tarata), James Paterson (Warkworth, North Auckland).