OBITUARY.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 November 1921, Page 6

OBITUARY.

OLD SETTLER’S DEATH. Taranaki’s band of early settlers are diminishing fast, says the Auckland Star, the latest to join the many in the far beyond being Mrs. C. H. Townsend, relict of the late Mr. Richard Townsend, who passed avfray on Thursday morning at Herne Bay. Deceased arrived in New Plymouth some 63 years ago at the age of eight, with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. B. C. Lawrence. With the exception of the time the women and children were sent to Nelson during the war with the Maoris, Mys. Townsend spent the greater part of her life in New Plymouth and Waitara. When educational facilities were meagre, Mrs. Townsend undertook the work of teaching children, among them quite a number of Maoris, and continued her good work Until the Education Board was able to provide a teacher and school-house. For some years past Mrs. Townsend had not enjoyed the best of health, but her cheerful disposition assisted in maintaining her spirits. Eghteen months ago she came to Auckland on a visit to her daughter, Mrs. Thos. Buchanan, and enjoyed fail health until some six months back, but from that on until her death very little hopes were entertained of a complete recovery. Mrs. Townsend leaves a son, Mr. R. L. Townsend, of the Telegraph Department, Wellington, and a daughter, Mrs. Thos. Buchanan, to mourn her death. Two brothers and two sisters, all resident in Waitara, still survive. The body was taken to Waitara by the Rarawa on Thursday for interment.