LINK WITH EARLY DAYS.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 August 1922, Page 4

LINK WITH EARLY DAYS.

MRS. G. W. PHILLIPS. Mrs. G. W. S. Phillips, who recently died at Matapu, South Taranaki, was a resident of Auckland in its early days. She Was born at Koi , orareka-—now Russell—Bay of Islands, in 1836, and was the youngest daughter—Jane—Of Alexander Grey, of Aberdeen, Scotland, who, being one of a party who had come out with an intention of making an attempt to colonise the country, arrived in NewZealand in the ship Annabelle, Captain Herd, in 1826. They landed at Herd's Point—now Rawene—Hokianga. Unluckily for the success of the effort, the Hokianga natives were at war with those of the Bay of Islands when-Cap-tain Herd’s settlers disembarked, and the sight of a war dance, and alarming reports of battles won and lost in the neighborhood, so terrfiied the colonists that most of them left the country after - a short residence. Grey settled in the Bay of Islands, establishing himself in business at Kororareka, Russell. Here were landed a number of young tribal representative Maoris, on their 'return from Sydney, where they had taken to reside for a time by the Rev. Samuel Marsden. Among them was Kotero Hinerangi, a member of the Umutahi hapu of the Ngateruanui tribe, of Taranaki, to whom Grey was married at Paihia, by the Rev. W. Williams, in 1830. Mrs. Phillips resided in Parnell for a number of years, until going from there with her husband in 1871 to Hokianga. They inaugurated the native schools there, under the Native Department. In 1893 they came to Taranaki, and an effort was made at Mawhitiwhiti, on. the Hastings Road, under the Education Department, to carry on this work among Mrs. Phillips’ maternal people. After the existence of the school for a few years with most encouraging prospects, the baneful effects ! of Te Whiti in the district proved its downfall, and the buildings were removed to Pariroa, where a renewed effort brought the same fate t Mrs. Phillips was of a prepossessing personality and much esteemed by all who knew her. She leaves a family of ten, of whom Mrs. Charles Bryers, of Omapere, Hokianga, is the eldest. Sophia, the late celebrated Rotorua guide, was Mrs. Phillips’ sister.