MISSIONARY DAYS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20076, 24 October 1939, Page 3

MISSIONARY DAYS

DEATH OF SURVIVOR MRS. SARAH J. BRITTAN Perils undergone by missionaries among the Maoris are recalled by the death of Mrs. Sarah Jane Briltan, Mount Eden, Auckland, widow of the late Mr. I-I. L. Brittan. in her eighty-first year. Mrs. Brittan was the only surviving daughter of the Rev. T. S. Grace, who arrived at Auckland in 1850 to take up work on behalf of the Church Missionary Society. He was first located on the early mission station at Muriwai, during the absence of the Bishop of Waiapu in England. Subsequently Mr. Grace established the first mission station at Lake Taupe, under the protection _of j the famous chief Te Ifeuheu Tukino, land his daughter was born, there in 1859. Although the Taupe people took no part collectively in the war of 188304, that part of the country was much disturbed by the conflict, and while her husband was temporarily absent from the station Mrs. Grace was obliged to flee. With her children', oi whom Ihe late Mrs. Brittan was one, and a governess-companion, she made the long journey on foot over Maori tracks to the sea at Matata.

The party arrived there barefooted and in rags, only to meet further danger from a Maori war party which was passing along the coast. They were saved partly by the courage of the old chief of the place and partly by a chance incident which caused the war party to decide that, their lives should be spared. They were eventually brought to Auckland by a coasting vessel.

Mrs. Brittan was married more than 50 years ago, her late husband being a member of a pioneer Canterbury family and one of the first children born at Lyttelton after the arrival of the original four ships in 1850. After living for a long period at Taiwan, ga. and later in England, Mr. and Mrs. Brittan made their home at Mount Eden about 24 years ago. There are no descendants.