DEATH OF MRS STANNARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue 92, 19 July 1881, Page 2

DEATH OF MRS STANNARD.

♦ It is with deep regret that we hear of the death of the wife of Rev, G. Stannard, which took place on Saturday morning, July 9. The deceased lady was a very old colonist, having arrived with her husband in new New Zealand in 1841 with a party of Wesleyan friends, who had purchased a large block of land in the Kaipara district for settlement. The vessel they ohartered was lost while entering the -Kaipara river, and, with the exception: of Sirs Stannard and a child of one" of the party named Wilkinson, all on board perished, some nineteen in number. Mr and Mr 3 Stannard were kindly invited to the Hokianga district by the resident Wesleyan missionaries, and they were then^ stationed for some years at the Hokianga Heads. From Hokianga Mr and Mrs Stannard removed to the Three Kings Training Institute, near Auckland, and from thence, in 1848, were sent to Wanganui to establish a mission station at Waitotara. Tbey embarked in the schooner Harriet Leithardt, and, after a tempestuous passage from Auckland of 11 •lays, during which time they were nearly itirved, the vessel was wrecked at the Wau^anui Heads, ami, in company with the Revs. Hobbs of Auckland,' and Kirk of Wellington, Mr and Mrs Stannard, narrowly escaped a watery grave. In the year 1 857 they laid the foundation of a Native Institute at Kai Iwi, which promised to l>e a centre of great usefulness for the Natives between Wanganui aud Waimate, but which, with several similar institutions, was desolated by the seven years' war. 'Mr and Mrs Stanuard served successively at the Three Kings, Auckland, at Hokianga, and at Raglan until ISfiu, when they returned to Wanganui, and Mr Stannard was superannuated. Throughout these years of, the trying and arduous labours of mission life Mrs Stannard rendered willingly and diligently such aid as a Christaiu woman can give to her husband, in the. instruction of Native women and 'children, and" almost" in. every case with marked benefit to the people amongst whom she dwelt. At the time of her death she had reached the advanced age of 71 years.— Wangauui Chrq- ; nicle.