OBITUARY.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXII, Issue XXI, 27 May 1899, Page 736

OBITUARY.

A gloom was cast over Te Aute last Monday, when the news of the sudden death of Mrs Thornton, wife of the headmaster at Te Aute College, was received. She was suddenly taken ill on Sunday night, and died in a few hours. The funeral, which took place on Monday, was largely attended, and all the old College boys who could be there in time were present.

Once again the colony has to mourn the death of one of its earliest and most esteemed settlers, in the person of Mrs William Beetham, who passed away peacefully on Thursday last, at the residence of her daughter, Mrs T. C. Williams, in Wellington, with whom she has resided since the death of her husband, who predeceased her 11 years ago. Mr and Mrs Deetham were among the pioneers who came out to the colony with their families in the ship William and Jane in 1855, Mr Deetham settling at the Hutt, where he remained until a few years before his death, when he took up his residence in Wellington. Pre-emi-nently fitted for a colonist, possessing all the higher gifts of womanhood, being beautiful, gentle, friendly to many, unjust to none, Mrs Deetham was universally beloved, not only by her immediate family circle, but by all with whom she came in contact. Until a year ago the deceased bore her years with wonderful vigour and energy, but last year her health began to fail, and in her 86th year, she has peacefully ‘Crossed the Bar,’ leaving a large family of six sons and three daughters to mourn her loss, all well known throughout New Zealand, more especially her sons, Mr George Beetham, now in England, and formerly a member of the House of Representatives, and Mr Richmond Deetham, of Canterbury, and Messrs Hugh and William Deetham of the Wairarapa. Her daughters, Mrs T. ('. Williams of Wellington. Mrs James Williams, of ‘Frimley,’ Hawke's Hay, and Mrs Fitzroy, of Hastings, being equally well known. Resides her large family, Mrs Beetham leaves twenty-seven grandchildren, and four great grandchildren to mourn her loss, and their grief will

be shared by very large numbers of friends throughout New Zealand. The funeral took place on Sunday afternoon, and very beautiful and numerous floral offerings were sent from all parts of the colony to be placed upon the grave. The interment took place at the Karori Cemetery.