OBITUARY

Hokitika Guardian, 5 November 1924, Page 2

OBITUARY

AIMS AIARTIIA KLOWN. One of the oldest and most esteemed residents of Greymouth died yesterday, at her residence Karoro, in the person of Airs .Martha Keown. Born SS years ago at London, oil November 25, 1830, the late Airs Keown left Southampton along with 700 others, at the age of 20 years, ill tlie emigrant ship “Shooting Star,” bound for Alelbouriie, and she arrived there in the year 1800. After residing for seven years in the Victorian capital, she lelt for New Zealand, arriving in Greymouth in June of 180,, when the goldfields were in their palmy days, and she then settled down with her husband, the late Robert Keown, they being for forty vears proprietors of the Australasian hotel, while Air Keown for a long term held the position of Sexton at the Grey mouth Conic tory, since its opening till 1900. Mrs Keown, who was the oldest resident of Karoro, where she spent the long term of 57 years, witnessed during her lifetime many historic events, and saw transition from the pioneering stage in the colonies. As a young woman she saw the. troops depart from the Old Country for the Crimean War whilst during her stay in Victoria, she was present at the farewell to the famous Burke and Wills exploration party at Flinders l.ane in Alelbouriie, witnessing their departure on the historic march across the Australian Continent, from which the leaders were fated never to return alive, and at their funeral later Airs Keown was again among those' present. She was a woman of most estimable character, and very many old friends here and in other places will regret to learn of Her joining the Great .Majority, her passing severing . one more of the few links with Old Greymouth that yet remain. She is survived by five of her family, all wellknown West Coasters, viz., Airs Stewart and Airs Bell (Karoro), Air Tlios. A. Keown (of the Hokitika “Guardian ” proprietary), Air Robert Keown, apiarist, Barrytown, and Alt* Alfred Keown of Runanga. With their many friends, we join in extending them sincere sympathy in their >eroaveme.it. The funeral takes place to Karoro cemetery to-morrow morning.