Tenuous link to one of Canterbury's 'unsung Heroines'
The powers of " Paperspast " via the National Library New Zealand's website showed through again earlier this year when in continuing my usual trawlings of Christchurch's newspaper 'Star' online, I came across an entry for one of Canterbury's colourful colonial females - Annie Quayle TOWNEND nee MOORE c1845 - 1914. She bought 'Karewa' in Fendalton and renamed it 'Mona Vale' which still bears this name today; bequeathed the large conservatory now at the Christchurch Botanical Gardens to the city after her death; donated thousands of pounds to build a church and vicarage in Glenmark, Canterbury amongst many other notable charitable acts. Several photos of Karewa/Mona Vale are on National Library's website here Townend conservatory December 2005 with Santa :-) Photo: (C) Sarndra Lees On her death, she left many people including her servants something in her Will. Amongst these servants was my Great Great Uncle Percy Carr ROBINSON, he was...