OBITUARY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6123, 9 March 1898, Page 4

OBITUARY.

MES MAET DIXOX. Mrs Mary Dixon, widow of the late Mr Joseph Dixon, of Ashley Grove, Ashley, diedyesterdayaf ternoon. The deceased, with her husband and five children, came to New Zealand in the year 1850, in the Charlotte Jane, the first of the historical four ships to arrive in Lyttelton harbour. Mr Dixon had been engaged by the Canterbury Association aa foreman in forming the main roads around Lyttelton and Christchurch, and the family liv«d in Lyttelton for fifteen months, sharing in the toils and discomforts of the early settlers. Afterwards they removed to the Ferry Eoad, where, at the suggestion of the Eev James Wilson (afterwards Archdeacon Wilson), Mrs Dixon, in 1854, opened tha first school in that district, and taught for a time in a small V-shaped hut, where divine service was also held on Sundays. Later on Mrs Dixon taught school in her own private residence. She occupied the position of mistress for about twelve year 3, and gained the. respect and esteem of her pupils and all who came in contact with her. Many of the old settlers will remember Mrs Dixon's kind hospitality and words of hopeful cheer on their first arrival in Canterbury. In 1865 Mr and Mrs Dixon, with their five daughters and two sons, removed to the Ashley district, where they successfully carried on the work of farming. Mr Dixon died in IS9O, his two sons, James and William, surviving him. but a short time. For the last five years Mrs Dixon, being in declining health, has resided with her youngest daughter, Mrs Samuel Kingsbury, at Ashley Grove. She leaves five daughters and a number of grandchildren to mourn her death.