NEW ZEALAND’S “GRACE DARLING.”

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2500, 13 May 1909, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND’S “GRACE DARLING.”

<©> A CHARACTER SKETCH. A writer in the Dominion refers to the death of Mrs Martin, the Maori woman, who rescued the crew of a vessel near Ne'son, and whoso death was reported recently, as follows : Two or three years ago the writer was travelling along the Manawatu lino by a train that was taking a number of Maoris up to the tangi of a wellknown member of their race. In the carriage opposite to her sat two Maori women with interesting faces. Ono was handsome in a largo way, and she had all tho air of a kindly, efficient doctor’s wife. There was a twinkle in her eye, a richness of voice, and a drollery that would almost have led one to think her of Irish birth, pure Maori though sh© was. Her companion was a rather older woman, whose appearance would have attracted attention in any company. In a railway carriage, with leisure to look about, one found it almost impossible not to stare, to wonder who she was, what was her history, whether her people were influenced by her wisdom and experience, as they surely should be. One felt somehow that, had this woman been a man, sbe would have done something brilliant intellectually, and one found in her resemblances to certain famous lawyers of the kindlier type. It was indeed a legal typo of face, and were eminent lawyers in the habit of bequeathing their mental attainments to succeeding venerations, ono would have been inclined to say that she came from a long line of lawyers. After a time the travellers at that end of the carnage bevan to talk to each other and grow friendly, and presently this distinguish-ed-looking woman took lior gold watch out of her pocket, and leaning forward, showed it to her new acquaintance, it was the gold watch “presented to Mis Martin by the citizens of Nelson at public meeting held in honor of' tho br.v verv shown by her in rescuing a shipwrecked crew.” This was the famous “Princess Julia.” Well, anyone who knows tho story of Mrs Martin would have been glad to meet her in that way, and alter that everything was very pleasant and companionable, and there was no longer anv wonder, lmt only pleasure, that the face so well fitted the story, and p east! ro too that the tribute from Nelson had, during all these years, evidently been such a joy to the heroine of tho was a woman of great force of character and passionate affections, one had no children of her own, but in true Maori fashion adopted other clu dren, or took them under her protection. One of the younger generation m whom she took most pride is the Rev. F Bennett, tho Anglican clergyman now stationed at Rotorua. She was interested sincerely in the welfare ot ber race, and of the Church. Mr Martin, her husband, to whom she was married in 1858. is a brother of Mr Parata, and undo of Mr H. W. Parata, of Wellington. Mrs Martin was a great property owner, owning a large portion of the land round Cable Bay—lß,ooo acres in all. She had a pretty cottage home of the bungalow type on a piece ot lngli crround overlooking Golden Bay, just a Tittle past Cable Bay, where she lived very happily, and where many thought it a privilege to bo received by her.