Helen Stone

Helen emigrated to New Zealand from Selkirk with her mother Jane HUME (nee LINTON) and married James. They lived in Auckland most of their married lives.

COLONIST'S DEATH Mrs. Helen Stone - One of the early settlers of the Waikato, Mrs. Helen Stone died at her residence in Owens Road, Epsom on Tuesday, in her 91st year. The late Mrs. Stone was born at Selkirk, Scotland, and with other members of the family of the late Mrs.Henry Hume, arrived in Auckland in December, 1858 in the ship Kingston. After residing in Auckland for several years she went to Ngaruawahia in 1864 with her brother the late Mr. James Hume, who opened the first branch of the Bank of New Zealand in the Waikato at Ngaruawahia, which was then a military outpost. Mrs.Stone saw a good deal of the life of the early settlers in the Waikato and upper King Country and was one of the party which met Sir James Fergusson when he arrived to take over the large estate which he purchased at Cambridge. In I870 she was married to Mr. James Robert Stone the second son of the late Captain James Stone, a well-known early settler. Mr. and Mrs. Stone resided for many years at Thames. Mr. Stone with the late Colonel W. B- White, owned the Shortland Sawmill Company, Mr.Stone managing the mill and bush in the Thames district and Colonel White directing the Auckland branch of the business which was located near the site of the old Nelson Street Wharf. While at Thames Mrs. Stone was actively engaged in the work of the Thames Benevolent Society and other social organizations. She was a foundation member of the Thames Old Girls' Association and was later elected a life member. She was also a member of the Early Colonists Association. For the past ten years Mrs.Stone had been living in Auckland. She is survived by two sons, Messrs. H. J.Stone and A. L. Stone of Auckland and three daughters. Mrs. Frank Newcomb, of Faversham, Kent and Misses H.M. and I. M. Stone of Auckland, there are ten grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Source: New Zealand Herald (6 August 1936 p. 12).