DEATH OF PIONEER

Taranaki Daily News, 13 September 1940, Page 4

DEATH OF PIONEER

MRS. BELCHER, CARDIFF One of the few remaining links with the pioneering days of the Cardiff district was lost with the recent death of Mrs. Louisa Eugenie Belcher, who walked to her husband's section on Waingongoro Road, Cardiff, in 1887, carrying a three-week's-old baby. She was the widow of Mr. J. T. Belcher. Born in Falmouth, Cornwall, in 1861, Mrs. Belcher came to New Zealand with her mother, Mrs. John Evans, in the sailing ship Eastminster, arriving at New Plymouth at the beginning of 1880. They had to be carried through the surf up the beach by men when they landed. She and her mother went to live with her sister, Mrs. John Coldwell, at Inglewood. In 1882 she married Mr. Joseph Thomas Belcher in St. Andrew's Anglican Church, Inglewood. About five years later Mrs. Belcher and her husband took up residence on Waingongoro Road, Cardiff. At that time they had three young children, the youngest three weeks old. To reach their farm Mr. Belcher put two children on one horse and led another pack horse and Mrs. Belcher walked and carried her baby all the way. About 20 years later they moved to climie Road, where Mrs. Belcher lived until her death after a long illness. Mrs. Belcher is survivecl by seven daughters, Mesdames C. Lummas (Castlecliff, Wanganui), A. T. Mandcr (Climie Road, Cardiff), E. A. Mander (Monmouth Road, Stratford), H. Croasdale (Otorohanga), and Misses M. E. and F.

Belcher (Cardiff); four sons, Messrs. A. E. E. Belcher (Cardiff), A. A. Belcher (Pembroke Road,- Stratford), W. C. Belcher (Spreydon, Christchurch), and D. Belcher (Woodlands, Invercargill), 27 grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and a brother, Mr. H. S. Evans, Dunedin. Two of her grandsons are on active . service. Private M. N. Belcher is overseas with the third echelon and Gunner 0. T. Mander is at Sinclair Head, Wellington. The funeral was private, only near relatives being present. A wealth of fioral emblems was received. The pallhearers were grandsons, Messrs. J., R., and C. Belcher and C. Mander, C. Lummas and E. Kemsley. * . .