McLeods of Rumsdale: Esther McLeod Part D Martinborough

Elizabeth aka Bessie Cameron

Marriage 1898, Elizabeth, only daughter of William and Esther Sutherland, married Donald Cameron from the Lower Pahaua Station.

Donald (Dan) Cameron of Moeraki Station. Abt 1910

Cameron Family

While Alexander Sutherland had settled in the Pahaua Valley, the first settlers at the mouth of the Pahaua River were the Camerons.

The Cameron family had come to New Zealand from the Highlands in the 1840s. A number of the Cameron brothers took up land at Pahaua, where the family eventually developed extensive holdings. The Cameron family still farm the Pahaoa Station in the Wairarapa.

Moeraki did not have the carrying capacity of Ngaipu. …Mr Cameron concentrated on getting bush cut, and by 1912 Moeraki was carrying several thousand more sheep and cattle.

The Moeraki homestead about 1910

Esther Steet, Martinborough

On the marriage of her daughter, Esther returned to her other home in Martinborough.

1907 Esther bought a recently subdivided block of land in Martinborough. Her block was named Esther Street. Nearby were Daniel Street and Malcolm Street.

1908 Esther sold a section of her land to her nephew Matthew McLeod (of the nearby Radium business).

Matthew McLeod's Diary

Esther McLeod/Sutherland died on 15 October 1910

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 949, 17 October 1910, Page 6

Death of a Caithness Lady in New Zealand

There has passed from our midst (says the Wairarapa Standard), an old and respected resident in the person of Mrs W. Sutherland, in her 78^th year. She left the house of her youth, at Rumsdale, Strathmore, Caithness, in 1858 to join her brothers in the Wairarapa, Wm. and James Macleod, who are still with us. She bravely faced the hardships of this early day, riding over roadless spur and valley for thirty miles, and swam swollen rivers to obtain household necessities. In those times parties of Maoris frequently called at the settlers’ houses and wanted to help themselves to what was in the pot, cupboard, or even purse but Miss Macleod would assert her rights against such liberties, and the Maori, who always appreciated bravery, would no further interfere. She married her cousin, Mr William Sutherland, of Moeraki Station, who predeceased her twenty-seven years ago. She leaves one daughter to mourn her loss, Mrs D. Cameron of Moeraki. Other relations are Mr Macleod, of the boot factory, and Mrs J. Taylor, of Dyerville (being brother and sister) , Messrs D., J.M. and A. Ross (nephews), and Mrs W. Boyd of Petone, and Mrs D. Sutherland, of Pahaoa, are her nieces. The funeral, which was largely attended, settlers from every part of the district being present, took place at the old cemetery. The pall-bearers were Messrs John, Alex. D., Murdoch and Robert Macleod, nephews of the deceased lady. The funeral service was conducted by Rev E.C. Tennant.