TUAPEKA.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 99, 20 March 1875, Page 6

TUAPEKA.

(From our own Correspondent.) It may be considered unnecessary on my part to pass any higher eulogiumon the late Mrs. James Harris than that contained in the appended lines taken from the 'Tuapeka Times.' But from one who had known her since her arrival amongst us in the Tuapeka district, and witnessed her many acts of kindness among those with whom it was her lot to be associated, will be my excuse. Mrs. Harris's mild disposition and unassuming character in the sphere of life in which her lot was cast had endeared her to a large number of fiiends, who will deeply deplore her loss ; and, as wife, mother, and a friend in need, sh e had few equals. For years past she had taken a leading part in collecting funds for the St. Patrick's sports, and helped in her adopted land to keep alive that enthusiastic spirit of nationality which has ever been the characteristic of the sons and daughters of her own dear native Erin. This week we miss her on the approach of St. Patrick's Day ; her smile and greeting and fond pleading for assistance, from which there was no refusal. And no higher mark could be shown of the esteem she was held in than her funeral, the largest ever witnessed in Tuapeka ; old and young friends and neighbours, and many from a distance, joined in the solemn procession that conveyed her remains to their hist resting place in the Lawrence Cemetery. The Revs. Fathers Larldns and Crowley were in attendance, and read the grand and solemn burial service of the Catholic Church. Mrs. Harris was apprehensive for some time past that her stay here would not be long, and consequently was fully prepared according to the rules of the Catholic Church. Her friends will be glad to hear that the Rev. Father Larking, her parish priest, was at her bedside during her last moments, administering consolation and the rites of the Church. Mr. James Harris has lost a good, prudent wife, and his children a tender and affectionate mother. — " It is not often we have to record the decease of any of our adult population, although occasionally one passes away from our midst. We regret to chronicle in this issue the death of Mrs. James Harris, the wife of one of our old and respected citizens. Mrs. Harris has been a resident in the Tuapeka district for upwards of twelve years, and was well known for her self-sacrificing disposition. She has been cut down in the midst of her years, and will be missed not only by her family, but by many who have experienced her uniform kindness." May she rest in peace.