THE OLDEST SETTLER.

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 17839, 11 October 1929, Page 6

THE OLDEST SETTLER.

LATE MRS E. MUNRO

SAW EIRTH OF HAMILTON.

SOME INTERESTING CONNECTIONS Hamilton’s oldest in,habitant,. Mrs. Elizabeth Munro, died at the residence of hor daughter, Mrs. A. Edmond, of Horsham Downs, last evening at the age of 94. The death of Mrs. Munro removes one who i-s believed to be the last adult among the little band of pioneers who sailed up the Waikato River on a gun-boat 65 years .ago and pitched their tents -on what is now Hamilton. One of her sons, Mr. A. Munro, of Rotorua, is claimed to be the first white child born in Hamilton. Born in England two years before Queen Victoria came to the throne, the late Mrs. Munro left her native land and parents as a girl and accompanied an aunt to Australia in the forties. She settled at Ballarat where sh e met Mr. Philip Munro whom she married. Responding to the New Zealand Government’s call for volunteers in the early sixties Mr. Munro and his young wife came to New Zealand and joined the party comprising the 4th Waikato militia, who landed on the hanks of the river near the present traffic bridge on August 24, 1864. As each man In the militia was entitled to a town allotment, Mr. Munro was given a long part of that area known as No 1 section at Whitiora. Commencing operations as a carpenter in a tent, Mr. Munro carried on this trade when not engaged in hostilities against the Maoris, and watched the foundations being laid of the hub of the Waikato. He died over 30 years ago. For a period in the eighties Mrs. ■Munro 'returned to Australia to visit her friends and relations in New South Wales. It was while on this visit that she witnessed the final downfall of the notorious Ned Kelly. In 1880 the notorious bushranger after over two years of banditry was cornered at Glenrowan and captured by the police, all the members of his gang being killed. Mrs. Munro was a witness of the historic incident. For many years after her husband’s death Mrs. Munro oontinued to manage her property at Whitidra, which she relinguished 10 years ago in order to live with her daughter at Horsham Downs.

The late Mrs. Munro was closely related to the late Sir Anthony Hordern,' the Sydney millionaire. She was a foundation member of St Petefr’s Church, Hamilton, and worshipped at the rude altar constructed of boxes and horse-cloths where the first Anglican service was held on the hill on which the Cathedral now stands. When Lord and Lady'Jellicoe visited Hamilton officially about 5 years ago, the late Mrs. Munro, together with othe'r old identities, was presented to their Excellencies as the oldest inhabitant. She was in full possession of all her faculties until the end and had always maintained excellent spirits. Last night she experienced a bad turn and -died- from internal hemorrhage. Mrs. Munro came from a family with a record 'for longevity. Her father lived to 98 and -her mother to 96, while there are other members of the family who passed away in their eighties. She reared a family of seven boys and five girls, of whom six children survive. They are Mrs. A. Corcoran, of Tirau; Mrs. A. Edmond, of Horsham Downs; Mrs. W. Dixon, of Walton; and Messrs. A. Munro, of Rotorua; J. Munro, of Hamilton; and B. Munro, of Wanganui. The funeral will take place at the Hamilton West Cemetery to-morrow afternoon.