OBITUARY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1038, 2 September 1911, Page 2

OBITUARY.

MRS G. BERRY, AGED 78 YEARS.

Death has claimed another pioneer colonist in the person of Mrs Giles Berry, relict of the late John Berry and mother of I\L: Henry Berry of Foxton, at

ripe age of 78 years. The dissolution took place yesterday morning, after a brief illness of about a week’s duration. Prior to this, the old lady had enjoyed comparatively good health and her mental faculties were undimned. Although comparatively lirtle known in Foxton, having arrived here with her son about six years ago, she was one of the pioneers of the Nelson and Marlborough Province. The deceased was born in Scotland in 1833 and came to New Zealand with her parents, Mr and Mrs John Gibson, in the ship “Fifeshire” and landed in Nelson away back in 1842 —she was then a girl of 9 summers. Her father was for a time engaged at Nelson as tide waiter, but subsequently removed to the Wairau. The deceased had a lively recollection of the Wairau massacre, where Colonel Wakefield was killed and other stirring events connected with the early history of that province. She was married in Nelson and subsequently resided at Renwick and Blenheim.

There were nine children of the marriage, six sous and three daughters, only three of whom are now alive, namely Messrs Alfred and Charles (Blenheim), and Henry (Foxton), together with e number of grandchildren. The funeral will take place on Monday, leaving Mr Henry Berry’s residence at 2 p.m.

We have been able to glean a lew facts from old records concerning the father of the late Mrs Berry, Mr John Gibson, who died in Blenheim some years ago. He was born in 1804 at Auchterairder, Perthshire. Young Gibson enlisted in the fourth batallion of the Royal * Artillery. He was first stationed at Woolwich and subsequently served in Portugal and Spain. After seven years he bought his discharge and joined his father as a malster. In 1842 he came to New Zealand in the Fifeshire. This vessel was also accompanied by the “Mary Ann’’ and “Eord Auckland.” The Fifeshire was the first of the three vessels to arrive and landed the original settlers of the Nelson province. Mr Gibson was soon conspicuous by his intelligence and social usefulness. He joined the police and subsequently the Customs Department. In 1852 he settled in Marlborough, where he remained until his death. His collection ot curiosities attracted numbers visitors to his home. He was of the sterling band of pioneers who helped to lay the foundation of the Britain ot the South, fearless and strong and essentially “a man. ’ ’

MRS HARIETT PROCTOR--36 YEARS. Death is no respecter of persons. The “grim visitor’’ makes his presence felt in the mansion as in the i humble cottage. He separates, for A a time at least, parents from children and children from parents. The former was exemplified yesterday morning, when death removed the mother of a family of nine children, the oldest of whom is a lad of 14 years and , the youngest a baby of 12 months. We refer to the wife of Mr Harry Proctor. The deceased was a comparatively young woman, being barely 36 years of age. With her also passed away an infant babe. To the sorrowing father and children we, in common with the Foxtou public, extend our heartfelt sympathy. The deceased was a daughter of Mr and Mrs Fuller, of Palmerston North. The interrment takes place to-morrow.