AUCKLAND PIONEER

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 501, 2 November 1928, Page 1

AUCKLAND PIONEER

DEATH OF MRS. FRANK ANDREW ONE OF OLDEST RESIDENTS With the death this morning of Mrs. Frank Andrew, in her S2nd year, at Maungawhau Road, Auckland has lost one of the oldest if not the oldest woman born in this city. She was born in Kitchener Street when there w'ere only six houses in Auckland, and her reminiscences of the early days of the Queen City were a source of delight and information to those who knew her. Gifted with a remarkably retentive memory, she could trace Auckland from its beginnings to the premier place it holds in the Dominion to-day. The house where she was born is now j a curio shop in Kitchener Street and i was erected about 84 years ago. It was to that cottage that Mrs. Andrew’s father took his bride. Mrs. Andrew said she could remember her father speaking of bringing home the bricks to build the chimneys of the cottage. Later, her father sold the cottage for £IOO and with the proceeds bought j a strip of land running from High ; Street to O’Connell Street, where the ! Safe Deposit Building now stands. He I built a blacksmith shop fronting High Street and added two rooms for the [ family to live.in. | Mrs. Andrew was married to Mr. [ Frank Andrew over 60 years ago, and j went to live at Otahuhu, where her : husband carried on a large grain and produce business until the time of his death, 30 years ago. Her husband served in the Militia during the Maori War. She was the chairwoman of the first ladies’ committee set up at Otahuhu to further the candidature of Mr. Massey when he .contested his first seat in Parliament. She was one of the first to join the Salvation Army when it started at Otahuhu, but always retained a deep affection for the Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Andrew, who died at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. G. i Gladding, Maungawhau Road, has been ailing for the past few months. She is survived by six sons and I three daughters: Messrs. *H. Andrew i (Te Awamutu), J. W. Andrew (Sy- I monds Street), Frank Andrew (Do- j minion Road), Fred Andrew (Ota- i huhu), William Andrew (Remuera), • Benjamin Andrew (Kohimarama), Mrs. j G. Gladding (Maungawhau Road), Mrs. j J. Hunter (Otahuhu), Mrs. J. Ferguson (Ascot Avenue, Remuera). She has numerous grandchildren and great- : grandchildren.

She will be buried in the Otahuhu public cemetery on Sunday.