OBITUARY.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXII, Issue XVII, 23 April 1904, Page 23

OBITUARY.

MOTHER PAUL. The death occurred at St. Patrick's Convent of the .Sisters of Mercy early on April 14 of Mother Mary Paul Ennis, who arrived in Auckland over fifty years ago. She was 75 years of age, and had been in the convent for 53 years. Mother Paul was born in the year 1829 in Hackett’s Town, Carlo, Ireland. She entered the Carlo Convent for the Auckland mission in 1850. and arrived here in 1851. She was stationed then at St. Patrick's under the late Mother Mary Cecelia Maher, Mother Superior. She was the last of the second band that loft Ireland, and on the 15th of July next., if she had lived, she would have celebrated her golden jubilee as a Sister of Mercy. She was Mother Superior of the order in Auckland on two occasions, the last term of her .superiorship being celebrated last year. She took ill four or five days ago. Her death was not wholly unexpected. She received the sacrament of extreme unction last evening, and afterwards recited the whole of the litany of the saints, which shows that she retained her faculties up to the last. She died at 20 minutes past five on the morning of April 14, and a requiem mass was celebrated in the convent chapel immediately after her death. The deceased Sister was universally respected by the Sisters and pupils, and a large body of the public, by whom her demise will be deeply regretted. MR. W. BAXTER. Another pioneer settler, who was especially familiar to picnickers at the National Park at Waitakerei, passed away on Sunday in the person of Mr. William Baxter, formerly of Henderson, who died of heart failure at the age of 74 years. Deceased, who was a fine type of co'onist, was born in Leeds, Yorkshire, in 1830, and went to Melbourne when the great gold rush broke out in the middle of last century, arriving in Victoria’s capital in 1852. He spent a number of years on the Bendigo and Ballarat goldfields, and was also present at the historic Eureka stockade riots. He had many interesting stories to relate of the rough ami occasionally dangerous life on those fields. Subsequently he returned to England, where he married, but the love for the free life of the colonies was strong in him, and he came to New Zealand in the ship Ganges, reaching Auckland in 1803. He passed through the many hardships incidental to the life of the pioneer, and when the Hokitika goldfields were discovered he joined in the rush, spending some little time in Westland. He had his third experience of goldfields life at the Thames, being one of the early arrivals on that field. Returning to Auckland, he opened a genera! store in Karangahape road, being in business there for some years. In the later seventies he retired from business, and started fruitgrowing at Henderson, where his farm, one of the last on the road to the Nihotupu Falls, became a very popular camping ground for picnickers to the Waitakerei Ranges. He came back to Auckland in December last, and enjoyed good health until about a fortnight ago, when he was suddenly attacked by influenza. Pleurisy supervened, followed finally by heart failure. He gradually sank, dying peacefully nt four o’clock on Sunday afternoon. Mr. Baxter enjoyed excellent health all through his life, and was highly esteemed by all with whom he came in contact. He is survived by his widow and two sons, Messrs. \V; E. Baxter, well known in musical circles, and Mr. F. Baxter, a member of the literary staff of the “Auckland Star.” MR. JACKMAN. Mr James Jackman, an old identity, passed away at his residence, Hepburnstreet, Ponsonby, on Saturday evening at the advanced age of 88 years. Mr Jackman arrived in Auckland 50 years ago, entered successfully into the coastal shipping trade, and retired from active business about thirty years ago. Deceased leaves a widow and grown-up family to mourn their loss. The death occurred last week of Mrs. -Dempsey, l an old identity of the Wairoa, after a long nnd painful illness. Mr. and Mrs. Dempsey (nee Miss Morrow) were married at Auckland in 1877. Mrs. Dempsey was over 00 years of age. ,