Mr and Mrs Charles Bannister. Mr Bannister was born in Masterton in 1863, and has lived here all his life. Mrs Bannister (nee McKenzie) was born at Te Awaite in 1863, and was one of a family of sixteen. When only six weeks old she was carried by her mother on horseback, a two days’ journey, from Te Awaite to Orongorongo. They lived at Orongorongo for ten years, and later at Waiwetn and Napier. In 1874, when she was 11 years of age. the family trekked from Napier through the 70-mile. Bush to Palmerston North, at the time when the Gorge Road was being constructed. At that period the only means of crossing the Manawatu River was by canoe. Miss McKenzie lived for twelve years at Stoney Creek, Palmerston North. She remembers with pride attending the first A. and P. Show at Palmerston, where she won the lady’s hack competition. She then moved to Masterion. where she married Mr Bannister in 1895.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 December 1939, Page 17 (Supplement)

Mr and Mrs Charles Bannister. Mr Bannister was born in Masterton in 1863, and has lived here all his life. Mrs Bannister (nee McKenzie) was born at Te Awaite in 1863, and was one of a family of sixteen. When only six weeks old she was carried by her mother on horseback, a two days’ journey, from Te Awaite to Orongorongo. They lived at Orongorongo for ten years, and later at Waiwetn and Napier. In 1874, when she was 11 years of age. the family trekked from Napier through the 70-mile. Bush to Palmerston North, at the time when the Gorge Road was being constructed. At that period the only means of crossing the Manawatu River was by canoe. Miss McKenzie lived for twelve years at Stoney Creek, Palmerston North. She remembers with pride attending the first A. and P. Show at Palmerston, where she won the lady’s hack competition. She then moved to Masterion. where she married Mr Bannister in 1895.