Ernest and Mary Matthews
In 1920 Mary married Ernest Matthews an
Englishman from Devonshire who migrated to New Zealand when he was 16. He
had worked on farms across the Waikato River and then was able to
purchase a block in Whakahongi Road. He served in the War and after
convalesence with his family in Plymouth was able to return to New
Zealand to take up farming again. He and Mary
were only about two miles from “Riverlands”, an easy trip
from Ngarua by horse and gig.
Their first child Catherine Isobel was born on
the 9th of February 1921. A second was still born on 14 May 1923.
Perhaps it is later that year that this photo was taken. Douglas
William arrived safely a year later, on 26 May 1924.
