OBITUARY

New Zealand Tablet, 3 February 1910, Page 184

OBITUARY

MRS. CATHERINE DWAN, WELLINGTON. There died at her residence, Nairn street, Wellington, on January 28 (says the New Zealand Times), at the ripe age of 80 years, Mrs. Catherine Dwan, relict of Thomas Ihvan, and mother of Messrs. T. B. and L. Dwan. The deceased was one of the few remaining of the noble band of pioneers who were associated in the early development of Australia and New Zealand. The vicissitudes through which she passed, and the hardships which she bore with unflinching fortitude, would form a volume of entrancing interest. The late Mrs. Dwan was born »t Roscre*, County Tipperary. She was married on October 24, 1857, and sailed with her husband on November 30 of the same year from Liverpool, arriving in Melbourne on March 10, 1858. The, present proud capital was in those days ‘ a few ragged huts ’ thrown down on a huge flat. There were no roads, and no means of intercommunication. The pioneers were, of course, bound for the goldfields. Gathering their swags and small belongings, they tramped with their swags over the rough country under a broiling sun, often hungry, and more often athirst, day after day, until they reached Inglewood, where they settled for a time, and where three sons out of four (two since dead, and two well-known Wellington citizens) were born in a tent. The late Sir Julius Vogel was one of their next door neighbors. When the gold fever spread to New Zealand, the late Mr. Dwan was one of the first to take ship for Hokitika. Ho was followed a little later by his wife, who landed with a little pioneer band of women in a surf boat at Brighton, twelve miles from Charlestown, their destination. There were ■no trains in those days, no coaches, no horses, no provisions except what could be scraped together, and carried on the back. Mrs. Dwan, nursing a baby, and leading two others, headed the procession of women through the dense bush, along fresh-cut tracks, water-soaked, and intersected by fallen trees. The family stayed at Charleston for fourteen years, Mr. Dwan throwing himself with characteristic energy into the pioneer life as auctioneer, merchant, and newspaper proprietor, importing goods from Australia and distributing them along the fields.’ The family eventually removed to Wellington, where their name has been a household word for many years. The late Mrs. Dwan was of a retiring nature, but of her. kind heart and charitable disposition there are untold evidences. Although her home was in New Zealand, where her body will be laid to rest, her heart was ever in Ireland, the land from which

she sprang. She loved Erin with an affection which was contagious, and any allusion to tho home land was always an occasion for a burst of eloquence from her lips. The deceased lady was a staunch Catholic, and one of the oldest parish,oners of the Boulcott street church, from the time or the late Father O’Reilly onwards. The funeral took place on Sunday afternoon, and was attended by a large and representative gathering of citizens. The cortege left the residence, Nairn street, for the Church of St. Mary of the Angels, where the first part of the burial service was read by the Rev. Father Kimbell, S.M., the Very Rev Dean Regnault (Provincial), Very Rev. Father O’Shea (Vicar-General), and the Rev. Fathers Goggan, Hickson, U Connell, Bowden, and Herbert assisting. The interment was at Karori, the service at the graveside being conducted by Rev. Father Kimbell, assisted by Rev. Fathers Hickson, Bowden, and Herbert. Among those who assembled to pay a last tribute of respect to the memory of the deceased was a large number of West Coast pioneers. Numerous messages of sympathy were received, including telegrams from Sir Joseph Ward and Hon. J. Carroll.—