92-YEAR-OLD PIONEER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 203, 29 August 1940, Page 8

92-YEAR-OLD PIONEER

WHOSE ACCOMPLISHMENTS ARE MANY Mrs. Sarah Anne McMurray, ot Palmerston North, one-time resident of Wanganui, celebrated her 92nd. birthday on Monday, when a family gathering was held. Born in Nelson, Mrs. McMurray is a daughter of the late Captain S. B. Silcock, of England, being the third of a family of 14. Captain Silcock took up land at Nelson in 1842. In 1872 Miss Sarah Silcock (as she then was) married Mr. Robert McMurray, removing a short distance to his farm at "Thorneycroft,” Brightwater. Later they journeyed to Inagahua Valley, Westland, where there was little contact with the outside world and groceries were only brought at three-month intervals. Besides making butter, cheese, camp oven bread, candles, and all the other requirements, even the children’s shoes, Mrs. McMurray made toys and furniture, taught the children, looked after the garden and kept up her singing. For months at a time she never saw another woman for. in her leisure time she tried out all manner of tools, fashioning toys and furniture. A large rocking horse cut out of wood, the saddle made from a cured skin, stirrups from tea lead and mane and tail from cows’ hair, was one of her achievements which carried the children many a mile across the diningroom floor. Eventually, Mr. and Mrs. McMurray and their four children moved to the North Island, settling on a farm at Awahuri for six years. Their next move was to Wanganui, where Mr. M.cMurray acquired an interest in the cargo boat Gertie, carrying coal and limber from the West Coast to and from Australia, and which also traded with Wanganui. Although she was then over 50 years old, Mrs. McMurray joined the Technical School classes in relief carving, and has made many beautiful articles to adorn her own home and those of her relatives and friends. Among the interesting pieces were carved mantelpieces and arches in her home, several oak glory boxes, ward robe doors, a handsome kauri table frith griffin legs, also trays carved from timber from the Charles Edward at Castlecliff. Her other handiwork has included 23 patchwork quilts, also fine crocheted car rugs, all kinds of wool work and slippers. When she was over 70 this energetic lady learned to make exquisite pillow lace and last Christmas she made no fewer than 29 wooden articles as gifts. At present she is making dainty leather posies for patriotic funds.. Mr. McMurray died 13 years ago. Four of the six children are living. A daughter, Mrs. P. B. Ryan, lives in Wanganui, and a son is Mr. A. T. McMurray, of Bulls.