Pioneer Passes

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 306, 28 December 1939, Page 5

Pioneer Passes

MRS. M. J. BYDDER’S LIFE BORN IN 1544 IN WELLINGTON Associations with the early days of Wellington, when her mother had .a dairy farm in Oriental Bay, and of Bulls, whither she went on her marriage when tho district -was known as Rangitikei and Foxton was much more, important than Palmerston North, -were closed on Tuesday with tho passing of Airs. Alary Jane Bydder, at the residence of her son, Air. C. Bydder, Reid’s Line, Bunnythorpe. Airs. Bydder was in her 9Gth year and was ill for only a .very brief period prior to her death. Wellington was but in its earliest days of settlement when Airs. Bydder’s father aud mother, tho late Air. and Airs. T. Whebby, arrived in tho sailing ship Clifton from England in 1841, bringing with them the older members |of tlicir family, the younger children 1 being born in Wellington. Airs. Byd!der was born in Alay, 1544, at Oriental Bay, and was brought up there, her mother, who was Widowed relatively early in life, conducting a dairy farm there on land which is now part of the city’s residential areas. Having enjoyed a life which was remarkably free from illness, and having retained all her faculties until recently, Airs. Bydder owued a very flue memory on which she could draw for reminiscences of the days of her childhood, when she saw Queen’s Wharf as more or less the extent of Wellington’s harbour facilities. On her marriage to the late Mr. Robert i Bydder in 1868 she took up her residence in Bulls—which was then known as Rangitikei—and she often recounted for those who were fortunate to enjoy [her confidence her memories of the early days of that district. The lata | Air. Bydder had the ferry across the river in the days before the first bridge [was built, this bridge being swept in a j flood in 1897 after having seen about .25 years’ service. As a recompense for having his livelihood removed by the erection of the bridge, Mr. Bydder was appointed tho toll-keeper and held the i position for somo time. In the earlier I days of the Bulls settlement impetus was given the township by the undertaking of Alcssrs. C. Bull and J. Bull, .who owned a sawmill (on tho Palmerston North bank of the river), a general store, and an hotel. The mill was worked to cut tho totara timber and at times, which Airs. Bydder remembered well, there was opposition by the Alaoris to its operation. Fqr half a century Airs. Bydder had been a member of the Brethren faith aud had lived a quiet life all her days. One vivid picture sho could recall was being shown over the old Maori Church at Otaki by Bishop Hadfield, the features and details of the church being deeply impressed on her mind. Otaki was then a halfway point in the two-day coach trip from Wellington to this district. The late Air. Robert Bydder passed away about 35 years ago, and for tho last IS years Airs. Bydder had resided with her son, Air. Charles Bydder, of Reid’s Line. Other sons are Messrs. O. Bydder and P. Bydder (both of Wellington). Daughters are Airs. H. Twist (Rotorua) and Alisses C. Bydder (Bunnythorpe) and E. Bydder (Auckland). The late Mrs. A. S. Easton, mother of Mrs. F. S. Easton, of Foxton, was a sister of Mrs. Bydder.