THE PASSING OF A PIONEER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 40013, 22 October 1929, Page 2

THE PASSING OF A PIONEER.

Dunedin, October 20

The death occurred yesterday of Mrs. Woolsey (nee Mary Coleman), at the age of 93 years, no fewer than 89 of which were spent in the Otago Province. Accompanied by her parents, Mrs. Woolsey arrived at Wai'kouaiti in the ship Magnet on March 16, 1840. At that time the only inhabitants of Wlaikouaiti were Maoris and the whalers, many of the latter having arrived several years earlier to carry on what was at that time a flourishing industry in these waters. Claiming a longer lesidence in Otago than any other person, Mrs. Wjoolsey, whose death ■marks the passing of the last of the Magnet’s passengers, retained many vivid recollections of the early days, and was able to recall quite clearly the arrival of the John Wickliffe and Philip Laiug in 1848. Ir 1849 the. Coleman family removed to Port Chalmers, and there well over 00 years ago, the deceased was married to Mr. Charles Woolsey, who died on July 20, 1896. Thoirc was a family of six children, and two sons and two daughters are still alive. Mrs. Woolsey is survived also by three sisters, Mrs. C. T. Haines ((Christchurch), Mrs. George Smyth (Port Chalmers), and Mrs. John Stumbles (Timam).