Making a positive connection

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The story was about Blenheim’s Philippa Hyndman who after looking online at a Springlands property at 22 Burnside Avenue, came across a ‘cemetery unmarked’ within the property.

The website ‘papers past’ (National Library) featured a clipping dated April 24, 1894 from the Marlborough Express with the headline ‘A Sad Occurrence’, reporting three lives lost in the Wairau River.

The clipping reported Waikakaho residents one, ‘Mrs Humphries’ and her child, along with one ‘Miss Wratt’ were crossing a ford of the Wairau River in a dogcart when ‘through some mishap’ all were thrown into the water and drowned.

As it turns out, the deceased are in fact descendants of Ewen’s family who are buried at Omaka Cemetery at Taylor Pass Road.

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Both Mrs Humphries and Miss Jane Wratt married Robinson’s.

After reading the story, Ewen did some homework and approached the Marlborough District Council to track down historical records which eventually led to the discovery.

He says he found the story fascinating as he had lived in Marlborough for a number of years including Rapaura where his ‘knowledge was pretty good’.

“It was very good service (from the council) indeed, I was given access to some photos which showed the family connection.

“I knew where the family cemetery was,” he says.

“The three that drowned include an epitaph of my great grandfa- ther Harry Robinson, who was a carpenter by trade. Most of the headstones have worn out or disappeared. Making the connection came as a surprise.”

On the inscription on the Omaka cemetery tombstone has Sarah Jane Wratt (24), Sarah Jane Humffreys (36) and Percy Humffreys (2) all who drowned in the Wairau River April 23, 1894.

The only obvious difference or