From the Otago Witness , Issue 2358, 4 May 1899, Page 21
THE LATE MRS HOWELL.
The funeral of the late Mrs Caroline Howell took place at Riverton on Thursday of last week. In the cortege were many Maoris and half-castes, by whom Mrs Howell was held in great esteem, she having come of shat we would call royal blood.
The late Mrs Howell was a woman of commanding presence, and some years ago was a prominent figure at all social gatherings. She had a cheerful and generous nature, and was noted for her hospitality, which was unbounded. Her early life is to some extent bound up in the history of two famous Otago tribes, who at one time lived near Temuka and Timaru, but who were forced south by the invasion of North Island natives. So bitter were the northern enemies, that to save themselves, the islets about Stewart island were sought as places of security from the attacks of the invaders. Some of these .refugees were subsequently overpowered near Tois Tois, and the chief beheaded — a fact which Mr T. Brown, now living, a brother of the deceased, well remembers. The tribes referred to were the Teaotau Marewa and Tema "Hikihiki, who became united by marriage, Te Wharerarimu, the late Mrs Howell's mother, being, as we would say, of royal extraction, her mother (Mrs Howell's grandmother) and the grandfather of King Toby — the latter, we may remark parenthetically, is still living at Ruapuke — being brother and sister. Toby's prestige arose from the fact that he was a descendant of the male line, Mrs Howell coming from the female, precedence being given to the male. Te Wharerarimu married Captain Brown, a skipper engaged in tho whaling trade, and as a result of this, several of a family were born at Codfish Island — Mrs Howell, Mrs Pratt (wife of Mr T. Pratt, M.H.R.), Mrs Palmer, of the Taieri, and Mr Thomas Brown, Riverton. Mrs Howell was married on August 10, 1845, the parties .proceeding to Wellington for that purpose, there being no clergyman then in the south, the officiating minister being the Rev. Mr Luxford, probably a relative of the Wesleyan divine of that name now resident in Invercargill. Captain Howell was engaged in the whaling business, and made numerous trips to Sydney, on many of which his wife accompanied him. She wag of a venturesome disposition, and repeatedly went on whaling expeditions, taking her turn in the boat and at times using the harpoon. For a time Captain Howell resided at South Riverton, and secured two stations, one at Fairlight and the other at Flint's Bush, with which he was eminently successful. He died in 1874-, the estates being sold subsequently, realising a handsome fortune, which was left to his family. Mrs Howell is survived by three sons and six daughters. Of the latter four are married — Mrs G. V. Printz. Mrs G. H. Butler (Melbourne), Mrs T. Bell (Orepuki), and Mrs T. R. Ellison (Wellington). — Riverton Star