OLD SETTLERS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5196, 16 November 1877, Page 3

OLD SETTLERS.

Mrs. Tonks, widow of the late Mr. W. Tonks, died at her residence, Ouba-street, on Saturday, 27th Oct. The deceased lady, who had reached the age of 74, was with her late husbaud amongst the early settlers here, having arrived in 1842. They were much respected in the district by a large circle of friends.

One of the oldest settlers in the colony, Mr. Pitzgibbon, chief postmaster at Christchurch, and formerly at the Thames, died on October 25th. Mr. Fitzgibbon both in his public and private capacity was much and deservedly esteemed by a wide circle of friends. This event takes one more from the gradually narrowing circle of old colonists, amongst whose ranks death has been very busy of late. We regret to learn that Mr. Alexander Munro, late Government engineer at Masterton, died at Reefton on November sth of dysentery, after a fortnight’s illness. Mr. Munro had been a resident of the Wairarapa District for four years, and a few months ago was appointed engineer to the Inangahua County Council. The deceased gentleman was the sou of Mr. Munro, who for many years represented the district of Marsdeu in the House of Repre entatives. We regret to have to record the dentil of Mr. Alexander Sutherland, which took place at his residence, Mansfield-street, ouSunday morning, October 21st. Mr. was one of onr earliest settlors, he having arrived here in the ship Oriental in IS4O. The deceased was upwards of seventy year's of age, hut was hale and hearty, and up to a recent date was apparently likely to live many years ; hut a few months ago he was attacked with cancer in the tongue, which terrible disease proved fatal. Mr. Sutherland leaves a widow and family to mourn his loss, which will also he much felt by a large circle of friends, by whom he was : much and deservedly esteemed. A number of the old settlers of Wellington were present at the funeral on Wednesday afternoon. The service at the grave was read, in the absence of the Rev. Mr. Paterson, by the Ilev. Mr. Moir aud the Rev. Mr. Ogg in a very impressive manner. It is always a painful task to chronicle the passing away of old colonists. It is unusually so in this instance, namely, on the death of one who, in her own unobtrusive sphere, had endeared herself to a very large circle of friends, aud who in every sense was not only a good colonist but the mother of a large family of sons and daughters, who have emulated the virtues of their parents in fulfilling the duties of good citizens in the work of building up this young colony. We refer to the death onThurs-" day evening November 8, of Mrs, Smith (better known as Mrs. Old Smith), of Molesworthstroet, at the ripe old age of 68. Mrs. Smith aud her husband, who is left to lament bis loss—aud a keen one it is—arrived at Wellington some time in the year 1845, and have resided hero ever since. The late Mrs. Smith was in every sense of the word “ an old identity,” aud for very many years the shop which the old lady kept, and which was mainly attended to by herself until within the last few months, when illness overtook her, had become an institution of the place. If a lady wanted a servant no such reliable medium as Mrs. Smith could bo found ; and there are few ladies in Thorndon but who will peruse this notice with feelings of regret. They will miss the cheery gossip of the kindly matron who found them servants or lent them the latest new novel, for a circulating library was part of the quaint but useful kind of business managed by Mrs. Old Smith. Another of the pioneers of the colony has passed away—Mr. AlfredLudlam—whose name is intimately associated with the progress of the provincial district of Wellington, and who represented. for many years the Hutt in the General Assembly, and also in the Provincial Council, of which he was at one time Speaker. It was only a few weeks ago that Mr. Ludlam returned to New Zealand from a visit to the Homo country, where he had the misfortune to lose his wife. The deceased was amongst the many useful colonists whose circle is gradually narrowing. To him Wellington is principally indebted for the Botauical Gardens, which, although far inferior to what they

should he, form nevertheless,an agreeable recreation ground, the want of which would be much felt, and which in the course of a feuyears will, it is to be hoped, he made in reality what they are in name. The site is one admirably adapted by nature for the purpose; and its selection shows both taste and judgment, in which Mr. Ludlam excelled. He also contributed largely at his own expense to stock this domain with choice and rare trees and plants, and on his own estate at the Hutt his love for horticulture was displayed to great advantage. If, to quote a somewhat trite but trim maxim, “He is a good patriot who makes two blades of grass grow where one grew before,” Mr. Ludlam is eminently deserving to bo classed in this category, and amongst the gradually narrowing circle of “ old identities ” tile loss of the deceased will be much felt.'