OBITUARY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1537, 19 August 1905, Page 3

OBITUARY.

o DEATH OF MRS E. F. HARRIS.

One of the oldest residents of Gisborne passed away yesterday morning at Haiti, in the person of Mrs E. F. Harris, who had been in a critical state of health for some time. Deceased, who was in her sixty-eighth year, was greatly esteemed for her kindly disposition, and the great amount of good work done by her in an unostentatious way. She proved a worthy wife to a splendid townsman, whom everyone held in the highest respect, and whom she survived by seven years. The late Mrs E. F. Harris was born in London in 1838, and with her parents arrived in Wellington in 1843, her father, the late Mr R. P. Chessman, being one of the first solicitors to start practice in the Empire Citv. In 1857 dec.ased married Mr E. F, Harris, who was at that time native interpreter in the Magistrate’s Court. Mr and Mrs Harris came to Gisborne in 1858, and for some time lived at Makaroka, at a property known os the Roseland Gardens. Whilst at Makaraka, deceased often came in contact with the native warrior Te Kooti, with whom she was on most friendly terms. In 1864 Mr and Mrs Harris left for the Otago goldfields, returning to Gisborne in 1873, and living here since that time. Deceased leaves a family of six, throe sons and three daughters. The eldest son, Mr Frank Harris, is proprietor of tho Albion Hotal, whilst Messrs Edward Harris and K. Harris are also well known throughout the district, Two of the daughters, Mrs Bymons and Mrs Newton, reside at Kawhia, and the third daughter, Mrs Cleary, in Gisborne. A singular coincident was that deceased died cn tbe anniversary of her eldest daughter’s birthday. Mrs Harris had for some months been in a failing state of health, and death came as a happy release after considerable suffering, borne with Christian fortitude. General sympathy will be expressed with the members of the family in their ead bereavement. As a mark of respect to the memory cf deceased, tbe flags on a number of buildirgs in town were flown at half-mast yesterday. The funeral will leave her late residence, Haiti, this afternoon at half past two for tbe Makaraka cemetery.