OBITUARY

New Zealand Tablet, 17 February 1916, Page 39

OBITUARY

MR. PATRICK McCarthy, temuka.

Sincere regret was felt by the many friends of Mr. Patrick McCarthy, of Temuka, when it became known that his death had occurred at Timaru. . On Monday, January 24, the late Mr. McCarthy was well enough to be out motoring. The following day he found it necessary to seek medical advice. ' An operation had to be performed, but was unsuccessful, and death took place on Wednesday afternoon, January 26. Mr. McCarthy arrived in New Zealand in October, 1875. After a short time he bought a farm' in Rangitata, where he built a homestead, and married Miss Murphy, of Ashburton. Mr. and Mrs. McCarthy were-most popular in the district, and the residents regretted? their departure, when Mr. McCarthy sold. his farm twelve years ago, and retired to Temuka. During his residence in Temuka he made hosts of friends, who will regret his sudden demise.- He was a most unassuming man, but those who knew him well could tell of his many good 'deeds, and his straightforward life. The funeral was very largely attended. The service both in the church and at the graveside was conducted by the Rev. Father —R.I.P.

MR. EDMUND HAYES, LOWER HUTT.

(From a correspondent.)

Mr. Edmund Hayes, a well-known resident of Lower Hutt, died at his residence, on the Main road recently after two months’ illness. Mr. Hayes was born in Ireland 63 years ago, and arrived in New Zealand by the ill-fated City of Auckland on her last voyage, about 39 years ago. He landed from the wreck on the Otaki beach without even his clothes and was befriended by the Maoris. About four years later Mr. Hayes went to reside at Lower Hutt, where he entered business as a building contractor, in partnership with Mr. R. Casey. ' He took a keen interest in public affairs,' and served the community in various capacities, being a member of the first Town Board which was formed in Lower Hutt, and afterwards, when the town grew • into a borough, he served for many years as a borough councillor. He was created a Justice of the Peace and was universally respected, ‘ one of the whitest men in the valley ’ being the verdict of an old resident. His wife predeceased him by eleven years. Deceased leaves six sons, of whom two are .married, and five grandchildren. The sons are Messrs. William, Edmund, John, Chris., Albert, and Vincent, Chris, being a corporal now serving his country in Egypt. The deceased at all times took an active interest in Church- affair's, and was a member of the local branch of the Hibernian Society. The funeral was a large and representative one. The Rev. Father Connolly (Taihape), assisted by the Very Rev. Dean Lane and Rev. Father Walsh, officiated at . the cemetery.— R.1.P., MRS. KOEFOED, DEVONPORT. (From our Auckland correspondent.) There recently passed away one who might truthfully be termed one of New Zealand’s very earliest colonists, in the person of Mrs. Bridget Mary Kpefoed, who landed in Hokianga in 1837, when two years of age. For some time the home of the family was in the far north, and while resident there the deceased attended the first Mass said in New Zealand, which was celebrated by the late&Dr. Pompallier, from whom she “received her early religious training. To be present at the services in those days entailed no little sacrifice, the only means of transit being by canoe in the fast-running Hokianga river, to say nothing of keeping clear ,of the Maoris, who were then very far from being the civilised race they now are. Indeed, «he often used to recall memories of seeing, when a ‘ 1! fj* .■■■• ■ ! 7 .tv: ■

child, the Maoris dancing hakas and helping themselves in. the orchard. Being the eldest daughter, a great responsibility rested on her.' When she was fifteen years of age her father, who had been predeceased by her mother three years, died in Auckland. His remains were borne on men’s shoulders from St. Patrick’s old Cathedral to the Symonds street Cemetery, this being the usual custom in those days. The late Mrs. Koefoed-took part in the first bazaar, which was held on what was known as the Convent Hill, while tents were erected to , hold the many articles which were sold t(\ help the Sisters of Mercy to build the convent. She was married to the late Harald Lucien Koefoed, of Denmark, in the Bishop’s private chapel, and spent the first of. her married life in Tapu, where, as the result of her early training, she was able to impart religious instruction not only, to her own family, but also to many others resident there at that time, as it was a rare occurrence to get a visit from a priest, who had to walk from Thames for the purpose. After residing at Thames for a number of years, where her husband died, she came to Auckland, living first at Porisonby and afterwards at Devonport, where she passed peacefully away in the presence of members of her family at the ripe age of eighty years, after an illness extending over five'years, during which time she was prepared for her end by. Rev. Fathers Edge and Furlong. The funeral service took place in All Souls’ Church by the Rev. Father O’Brien, assisted by . the Rev. Father Golden. Three sons and two daughters are left to mourn the loss of a mother in every sense of the word. She also leaves a brother (Mr. W. Flinn, of the Great Barrier), who last year celebrated his diamond wedding, and a sister (Mrs. E. Staunton, of Mt. Eden).R.l.P.