EARLY MISSION

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 44, 14 May 1927, Page 6

EARLY MISSION

HISTORIC DAYS RECALLED DEATH OF MRS. TRUMNELL Early church endeavour among the Maoris in the Far North is recalled by the death of Mrs. Trimnell, relict of the late Dr. T. J. Trimnell, at Mangonui. On both her maternal and paternal sides she was connected with early missioners, her father being Mr. William Puckey, and her mother the daughter of the Rev. Richard Davis, who went to the Bay of Islands about 100 years ago. Born at the Kataia mission station 88 years ago, Mrs. Trimnell experienced the hardships of pioneer settlement. The early missionary families had to a great extent to confine themselves to such food as could be cultivated by themselves or obtained from the Maoris, such as potatoes, kumaras, maize, and thenproducts. Their only opportunities to obtain such luxuries as tea, sugar, flour, or tobacco occurred when American whaling ships called at Mangonui. Her father and the Rev. Joseph Matthews, established the Kataia station and both missionaries married daughters of Mr. Davis. Dr. Trimnell took up the 500-acre farm known as Grassmere, at Pukepotu, near Kaitaia. It was after settling there that he met and married Miss Serena Puckey. Dr. Trimnell \vas notable as one of the men who first introduced gorse into the Kaitaia district. Some of the seeds had been sent out from England in an envelope to the missionaries stationed at Waimate. The memory of the kindly woman will be preserved in the north. She is survived by one son, Mr. G. W. . rir !l ri and one daughter, Miss Masrm?i Trimnell, both resident in Mango-