OBITUARY

Chronicle (Levin), 29 August 1947, Page 4

OBITUARY

MRS. MARY ANN TAIT With the death yesterday at the age of 81 years of Mrs. Mary Ann Tait this district loses yet anothjer of those early settlers whose hard work and cndurance made possible the prosperity of today. Born in Tawa Flat, Mrs. Tait had her first view of Horowhenua from the bullock-drawn waggon in .which her family made the arduous trip up the beach to Foxton, where they tool: up farming. The late Mrs. Tait was then at the tender age of tw^. Ihe other members of the family .made the trip on foot, driving before them the cattle, sheep and pigs as all others in their day were compelled to do. The late Mrs. Tait was a member of the Tayior family, well-known pioneers of this district. Her brothers were the late George Tayior (Feilding), Jack Tayior (Helensville) and sisters, the late Mrs. T. King (Otaki), J. I. Marshall (Marton), G. Bailey (Palmerston North) and T. Gledhill (Palmerston North) . A further brother, Mr.- Richard Tayior, of Feilding, is now the only survlving member of the family. At an early age the late Mrs. Tait married the late Thomas Barnet, who died at Palmerston North iff 1922. Prior to this she and her husband had been farming at Koputaroa. In 1918 they left to take up residence in York Street, Levin. In 1925 she married the late Mr. William Tait, who predeceased her eleven years ago. A quiet woman by nature,. Mrs. Tait nevertheless made a large cirele of friends ahd was generall'y wellknown and dfeeply respected throughout the district.