AGED TWIN SISTERS

Waipa Post, Volume 51, Issue 3693, 4 December 1935, Page 4

AGED TWIN SISTERS

FEW DAYS SEPARATE DEATHS

Only a few days separated the deaths of twin sisters in their 83rd year, one a resident of Auckland and the other Te Awamutu, and it is a coincidence that both died following injuries suffered in falls. They were Mrs E. M. Ekman, who lived in Hazel Avenue, Mount Roskill, and Mrs C. Hendricksen. Both were on the sailing vessel City of Auckland when it was wrecked on Otaki Beach on October 22, 1878, and both have been buried at Wiaikumete Cemetery. Mrs Ekman fell and injured her hip, and died recently in the Auckland Hospital, her sister, who injured herself in a fall at Te Awamutu, dying some days before. They came to New Zealand in the City of Auckland when they were young women, having first travelled from Norway to Plymouth to join the vessel, which was commanded by Captain Ralls. The City of Auckland was bound for Napier and Auckland with 240 immigrants and a cargo of railway iron, and the vessel went ashore on Otaki Beach at night. There was great confusion on board, and it was eight o'clock the following morning before a boat could be launched. Eventually all the passengers were taken ashore. The two sister retained vivid memories of the shipwreck. After a short period at Napier, Mrs Ekman and her sister went to Auckwhere they married. Mrs Ekman, whose husband predeceased her, is survived by two sons and two daughters. Mrs Hendricksen, who was also a widow, is survived by three daughters, one of whom is Mrs H. Renton, Sloane Street, with whom she had resided for the past six years.