Reminiscences of tlie Early Days.

Manawatu Standard, Volume X, Issue 1486, 21 October 1885, Page 2

Reminiscences of tlie Early Days.

(Chonicle) X On Sunday afternoon Mrs Campbell (widow of the late- Captain Campbell), one of Wanganui's oldest and most respected residents, passed neacef ully away to her rest. The deceased lady, who was m her 78th year, succumbed to an attafk of bronchitis, which an enfeeble.l system was too weak to resist. Though she had been ailing for about a fortnight, she was only confined to her room for four or five days, and retained perfect possession of her mental faculties to the last. Mrs Campbell, with her husband, arrived m the Colony m the year 1840, landing at Port Nicholson, and soon after coming on to Wanganui, where the family have resided ever since. Among the surviving passengers by the vessel wbioh brought Mr and Mrs Campbell from the Old . .Country may be mentionedMr John Cameron, of Marangai, and Mrs Gre.g-oi 1 McGregor, of Wilson street, old settlers who have borne the heat and burden of the day. The deceased lady and her husband experienoed all the vioissituees ooaimon to thb early settlers. On one occasion, during the early Maori troubles, they were obliged by the military to quickly abandon the house m which they were living, at what is now the corner of Wilson and Kidgway-streets, as it was considered a dangerous outpost and likely to invite attack from the natives who were hovering round. The place was therefore vacated, the occupants retiring to the town stockade, which stood on the spot now occupied by the Ship Hotel. The deserted house was partially destroyed by the troops, but the ruins were subsequently taken possession of by the Maoris. These were the days of stirring scenes, numberless stories concerning whicli have boon told by the old residents, whose ranks are now so rapidly thinning. The lady who was the subject of our present notice was much loved and respec'ed for her kindly nature and charitable disporition, evidences of which were abundant m the days gone by. Shelea\esto mourn her loss four sons and three daughters, all grown up.