OBITUARY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 115, 18 May 1933, Page 6

OBITUARY

PATEA PIONEER PASSES. MRS. JOHN SHEILD. Early on Wednesday morning, there passed away at her home tho “Alother of Whenuakura,” Airs. John Sheikl. Predeceased by her husband some years ago, Airs. Shcild has been ailing for somi time, and her death was not altogether unexpected. The funeral took placo yesterday‘afternoon from St. George’s Church, the Rev. Wilson conducting the service, which was attended by a large number of friends and relatives. Four sons, Alessrs. W. F., 8., A., and J. Sheild were the pall-bearers. Airs. Sheild camo to Whenuakura with her husband over 50 years ago, when the district was hardly opened up. They started farming in the district some five miles from Paten, and here brought up their largo family of 18 children. In every way, both Air. and Mrs. Sheild led tho pioneers of the district, and were kind, unselfish neighbours. They led the hard life of the pioneers of that time, and helped in the cultivation of what is now norhaps tho richest dairying land in Taranaki. Virgin bush then surrounded their home, which now stands clear on a hill overlooking many miles of the Whenuakura district. Mrs. Sheild leaves a large family of mns and daughters, all but three attending the. funeral. Messrs W. F. Sheild (Patea), Bert (Whenuakura). Fred (Whenuakura), Wilfred (Whanga rei), Charlie (Whenuakura), Richard (Wanganui), Percy (Wairoa, H. 8.), John (Inglewood), and Arthur (Wanganui), and Alns, Frcyor (Whenuakura). Mrs. Broad (Cambridge). Airs. Nicholls (Otakeho), Mrs. Thorpe (Stratford), Mrs. Tebbitts (Pio Pio), and Aliss Al. Sheild (Whenuakura). There are also 29 grandchildren and 16 groat-grand-"hildrom MRS. MARY PARKES (Contributed) Airs. Alary Parkes died at her resi donee on St. John’s Hill on Tuesday at the advanced ago of 91. Airs. Parkes was born in New Doer. Aberdeenshire. She came ro Now Zen land in 1853 at the age of 12. with relatives. They arrived in A tick lan 1 ’ by the. sailing ship Gipsy, coming in without a pilot on the wrong side of Rangitoto. Her parents followed latei and settled in the Alatarawa Valley. Mrs. Parkes married early in lif' She first lived on St. John’s Hill and later at their farm, “Sandhurst.’ where their family grow up. Air. an- 1 Mrs. Parkes kept an open house and friends wore always made very wel come. Alany buggy toads made a half-way house when passing up and down the coast before The railway? wore made. They experienced many depressions, and. during tho disturb times of the Maori War, Airs. Parkes had frequently to take refuge in town with her little family. After the first, influenza epidemic they left tlv farm and retired to St. John’s lE’ Mrs. Parkes was predeceased by her husband 27 years ago. She ha? since lived surrounded bv most of her fam ilv and grandcfiildron. She was always of n happy and bright disposition, had a wide circle of friends, and a wonderful memory for early dnv i? cidents. She was the only surviving mombor of St. Paul’s Bible Class dur ing tho Rev. Hogg’s ministry. She leaves a family of six girls, one son six grandchildren and two great gran-’ children.