RELICS OF PIONEERING DAYS

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 4002, 26 September 1929, Page 2

RELICS OF PIONEERING DAYS

DISCOVERY OF TWO HEADSTONES.

While taking a sho)rt cut inland from the beach, just a little to the north _of the Waikanae -Stream, a few days ago, Mr, J. Ralston jnr., of Levin, came unexpectedly across two old gravestones, which must have been set up in that lonely spot when the white settlement of the country was ill its infancy (says the Levin iChroniele). 'The stones were situated about eight yards apart, on a little knoll ,in a land of clearing, practically surrounded by sandhills and scrub. .'Some pieces of tofara timber were lying about, indicating that at one time a eaanp or rough dwelling existed in the locality. One. stone had subsided and was lying almost prone, and this was restored by Mr.' Rolston to an upright position. It. bears the following inscription:—“Sacred to the memory of . William . Brownie. Drowned June 3, 1852. Aged 46 years.” The other memorial was ail older one and suggests another phase of the hardships of pioneering, the inscription being: “Sacred to the memory of Margalret Maria, second daughter of David and .Penelope Dime, who died —1848. Aged three years.” The exact date in this ease has become illegible, but the characters remaining suggest either July or August. The tombstones were made of hard sandstone, and the words were neatly ami deeply cut, in the slender style of lettering ' which had survived from a much earlier period. After his lii-st. visit to the spot, Mr. Rolston returned and took photographs of the two memorials, and from the pictures a very clear impression of the engraving is obtainable. At this distance of time it is difficult, in the absence of records, to visualise the circumstances 'under which the interment* were made.