DEATH OF A PIONEER.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1923, 4 December 1913, Page 2

DEATH OF A PIONEER.

REMARK ABLE CAREER. Tho English mail brings information of the death of one of Taranaki's early .settlors, Mrs. 'Thos..',Smith, of Meb-de-n Bridge, York, at the advanced ago of 97 years.' Bern in the year of Waterloo, sho had lived in"tho reign of six sovereigns—George 111, George . IV, William IV, Victoria, Edward VII, and George V. ' She was but a child when (Jcargo.lV came to the Throne, and up to the last sho dearly remembered tho coronation of his'successor in 1831). Sho had, too, a vivid recollection of heaving Sir Robert Peel speak at Halifax upon tho Corn Laws. Bin- saw tho introduction of the railway, into her native district of Hebden 'Bridge—a pre-eminent episode of her young clays. In 1554 sho and her husband emigrated to No wZealand, a few..years, before.the Maori War commenced.'' The voyage, in the sailing vessel Joseph Fletcher, occupied between four aud five months. When trouble arose with tho Natives, Mr. and Mrs, Smith had barely time to escape with their Jives into New Plymouth from the outlying district, and their homo was destroyed slid looted. They escaped only by a servant's faithfulness. Mr Smith received a service medal for his share in the battle- nf Mahoeta'hi. After a visit to England they returned and settled down to farming. Mr. Smith died several years ago. His widow had since crossed the ocean a doxen times, the last occasion being when sho was approaching her 92nd birthday.