OBITUARY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 49, 28 February 1939, Page 9

OBITUARY

MRS. E. McMEN A MINFORMERLY OF WANGANUI The death has occurred at Lower Hutt of Mrs. Elizabeth McMenamin, a former resident of Wanganui, at the age of 95 years. Mrs. McMenamin was born in Dublin and went to Melbourne when 18 to join a married sister.. Later they came to New Zealand and settled in Invercargill. They coached from Bluff to Invercargill as there was no railway. Invercargill in those days was practically a colony of tents, but there were two churches, a theatre, and a hotel. Mrs. McMenamin used to relate that the visit of Sir George Grey was a great event, as he was well liked by the people. A novel entertainment was arranged for him. A wooden railway line was laid a few miles out into the country, but on the return the engine refused to, move. Investigation showed that rain had caused the wooden rails to swell. Mrs. McMenamin married the late Mr. John McMenamin, a railroad contractor, while in Invercargill, and after six years there they moved to Thames, then a township of tents with a few cottages. The family next moved to Wanganui, which was then just a township. Mr. McMenamin was later the contractor for the first 10 miles of the railway line to Wellington, and at the opening Mrs. McMenamin turned the first sod. At that time the Maoris were troublesome. Mrs. McMenamin used to tell of an ordeal she had to face when Maoris swarmed through the doors and windows of her home unannounced and ransacked her cupboards.

After five years in Wanganui the family* moved to Wellington and then to Lower Hutt, where Mrs McMenamin had lived for 42 years.

The late Father McMenamin, who was killed at Messines, was a son of Mrs. McMenamin. He was a parish priest before leaving for the war. Mr. McMenamin died 14 years ago. Mrs. McMenamin is survived by her daughters, Mrs. A. J. Dunphy and Mrs. T. P. Dunn, Lower Hutt, and Mr. W. H. McMenamin, Christchurch, and Mr. J. J. McMenamin, South Africa.