OBITUARY

New Zealand Tablet, 25 August 1921, Page 27

OBITUARY

MRS. JULIA WOODS, WYNDHAM RIDGES. The fast diminishing band of early settlers in this district (writes a correspondent) lost yet another of their number on Tuesday, 2nd hist., when Mrs. Julia Woods, Wyndham Ridges, relict of John Woods, was called to her abiding home. The deceased lady was a native of Carrabrown, parish of Castlegar, Co. Galway, Ireland, and she was the youngest and last surviving member of a family of five sons and four daughters of the late William Duggan. Julia Duggan came out to New Zealand 48 years ago to. join her brother-in-law and sister, Mr. and Mrs. Martin Collins, who were well known in the early days at Invercargill, Roslyn Bush, and Pukerau. IJre long the young woman removed to “Dunalister,” Wyndham,! under engagement to the late Hon. Dr. Menzies; and two years later she was married to Mr. John Woods (who already had a selection on the Ridges) at Invercargill by Rev. Father Carden. Three sons were the result of the union : Michael F. (manager of G. W. Woods and Co.. Invercargill), John (who has remained on the farm), and George William (a victim of the influenza epidemic in the latter part of 1918). Her husband had passed away some years previous to the loss of her youngest son, whereupon Mrs. Woods, who was nothing if not practical and courageous, took over the control of the farm for some time, until full of years she handed the control to her son John. Other near relatives of the deceased lady in the Dominion include Messrs. John Collins (Mataura Island), Walter Collins (Wyndham), and William Duggan (Wellington, and formerly of Wyndham), nephews; Mrs. S. Browne (Mataura Island), niece; and Mr. Patrick M. Burke (Wyndham), cousin. The late Mrs. Woods was a goodhearted neighbor, and a generous benefactor of the Church. The high esteem in which her memory was held was shown by the lengthy cortege of mourners at the funeral, including representatives of all denominations, and some coining from Winton, Invercargill, and Gore. The remains were interred in the Wyndham Cemetery on the 4th inst. The Rev. Father O’Donnell (Gore) was the officiating priest.— R.l.P.