OBITUARY.

Otaki Mail, 12 September 1923, Page 2

OBITUARY.

MRS. E. SIDEY. By t lie death of Mrs. L\ So ley, on Saturday last, another of tho>e closely connected with the early days around Wellington has been removed from out midst. A daughter of the late Mr. .lames TVtherieU. who arrived here or January --ml. IS-PL on the Aurora, Mrs. Sidey was born at. Johnsunviile in IS4-J-. This was in the days befon .lolwisonville had that name, and all tiie settlements between hero and--I'orirua were referred to as on the l*»»n run line. Living during her infamy through troublous times and within tin shadow of (TiffordV stockade. the menfolk carried arms when any distance from their homes. Mrs. Sidey saw the gradual clearing of the country, lire growing of wheal in and around the settlement, and the use of the com munal 1 * flowermill ’ ’ (hamhuill). Her recollect ions of those (.lays were of %n----siderablc intenvo. and her memory of the great earthquake of when |M - actically all the people in the settlement sou gin shelter in the ‘‘church’' for some days, was very vivid. On May --4th. I>a>L\ she married Mr. Francis Sidey. at Johnsonville. the Rev Mr. Ivirton uHieiat ing. (May iMth. then the <Jueeu *s Birthday, being one of tin* very few public holidays, was “the” d;ir of weddings in this and other settlements). Mr. Sidey at that time was an accountant with the lirni of Bethune and Hunter, and the happy couple took tip their residence in Hoppier street. Some few years later they moved into Kilbirnie at a time when there were less than a dozen residents, remaining there for many years. During later years the family residence has been in Mein Street, Newtown. Mrs. Sidev will be long remembered | by her kindly disposition towards all those she lias been associated with, and her sympathy and thought for others. ' As the daughter of a pioneer settlor, I and born in the infant settlement, she j took a keen interest in the growth and development of tin* city. An active member of the Rally Settlors* Association, and member of the executive, she ’ did much to keep in touch with the early settlers and bring them together, and will be greatly missed from them. She is survived bv her husband and I family of eight children —Mr. C. Sidey. Mosdames P. Muter, W. Shirer, F. Burnell {Manakau), A. Clark. H. Wilson. C. Redwood (Johnsonvilli-), and Miss Sidey— seventeen grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.