A PIONEER PASSES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 37, 14 February 1939, Page 6

A PIONEER PASSES

MRS. J. BURTON DEAD BORN IN EARLY WANGANI I "AUNT EMMA" TO MANY Born in Wanganui nearly 80 years ago, Mrs. Emma Burton died at her residence, Ridgway Street, on Friday night after an illness extending over several years, during the last two ol which she was confined to her bed. It. was in a flax and toi-toi whare on the present site of the Wanganui Girls’ College that Mrs. Burton was born in 1860, her fatheir being Mr. J. Peapell, a road and drainage contractor who nad arrived with his wife in the early 'fifties. The rude structure in which Emma Peapell was born housed two families, their respective portions being separated by a raupo partition, for these wore the days of the pioneer. The other occupants, a family by the name of Roots, later settled at Springvale. Mr. Peapell carried out a large number of contracts in Wanganui, included being the formation of portion of Wanganui’s main th?,roughfare. Victoria Avenue. Three of his children si ill survive, these being Mr. T. Peapell, of Waverley, and Mrs. P. Scal'y and Mrs. A. Kilpatrick, both of Wanganui. Twice married, Mrs. Burton leaves a husband and an adult family of four, Messrs. Ernest and Walter Vincent (both of Wanganui), Mr. George Vincent (Hamilton) and Mrs. A. Rouse (Foxton). There are 19 grand-

' children and two great-grandchildren. Though she had resided in Wanganui practically all her life, Mrs. Burton spent eight years, from 1914 to 1922, in the vicinity of Mangamahu, where her husband was employed by (he Wanganui County Council on the River Road. During this period “Aunt Emma,” as she was affectionately known by a large circle of friends as well as three generations of the family, endeared herself to the settlers and back-country residents by the re: dincss with which she responded to any call for assistance. When sickness visited some backblocks settler’s family, "Aunt EYnma” Burton was there before a doctor could be summoned, and to her many a child and many a wife owed health, and frequently life, for transport difliculi ties often stood in the way of a train- . ed nurse being able to attend in time. , In scorching summer heat, or al the . height of a winter storm, on horseI back over winding bridle-track or [ even afoot through knee-deep mud at . night, “Aunt Emma," a Florence Nightingale of the bush country, never ■ failed to respond to a call for help. , Evidence of the settlers’ appreciation of her work in this,direction was provided by the send-off she and her husband were given when they left the i district. To her neighbours in Wanganui Mrs. Burton was known as the soul of generosity, ■hough frequently her I giving meant sacrifice akin to that of the widow and her mite. The passing of this pioneer will be regretted by the many who had the privilege of knowing “Aunt Emma” as a friend in need. She was lair to rest yesterday morning at the Wanganui Catholic Cemetery.