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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]
In Memoriam. — Miss Martha Myers
In Memoriam.
Miss Martha Myers, the fourth daughter of Mr. Judah Myers, Merchant, of Wellington, was born at Motueka, Nelson, on the 9th of February, 1871, and died at Wellington on Thursday, the 10th of June, 1895. A member of a talented family, she early developed a love and capacity for music, and in the cultivation of her talents she was encouraged by all her friends. But not only in music did she excel. In 1885 she gained an Education Board Scholarship entitling her to a scholastic course at the Wellington Girls' High School, where she exhibited the same care and devotion to duty which had ensured her success while a pupil at the Thorndon School. Her musical education was conducted by Mr. Hautrie West and Mr. Robert Parker (instrumental), and Miss M'Clean (vocal). Her wonderful success brought her renown, but it was her singularly amiable disposition and her charmingly modest demeanour which so endeared her to the large circle of her acquaintances, and to the music-loving public generally. To say page 449 merely that Miss Myers was a general favourite would most inadequately describe the estimation in which she was held. Rarely does a young lady of such marked ability in a particular line of study preserve so thoroughly her childlike modesty. The writer of this article was present on the occasion of Miss Myers's first pianoforte performance in public, some nine or ten years before her death, and to the last her quiet, unobtrusive manner reminded him of that first appearance. In modesty, gentleness and genuineness Miss Myers never outgrew her childhood; but in musical attainments, and in an earnest desire to do good, she was much beyond her years. The New Zealand Times said of her:— “Both in singing and playing, her rendering was most accurate, her method artistic, and her faculty for correct and tasteful expression was a distinguishing characteristic. Her voice was mezzo-soprano in quality, and when “The Rose of Sharon” was performed by the Harmonic Society some time since, Miss Myers took the mezzo-soprano solo part. She was a member also of the Festival Choral Society during the first year of its existence. Her accomplishments were undoubted, but it will be her sweetness and gentleness of manner that will embalm her memory in many sorrowing hearts, and cause her to be long and affectionately remembered by her little music pupils.” The New Zealand Graphic, after describing her illness and death, added:—“For the first two years of the existence of the Amateur Operatic Society, Miss Myers acted as its pianiste, and on retiring from that position she was presented by the Society with a handsome gold watch and chain. The Festival Choral Society also had the benefit of Miss Myers aervices. To her it seemed a real pleasure to assist in any movement for the amelioration of the poor, or, in fact, any deserving cause. Indeed, there are good grounds for believing that her kindness of heart may have had a good deal to do with her illness, as since her decease it has come to her parents' knowledge that among her pupils were some whom she taught free of charge from sheer kindness of heart, knowing that they were not all able to pay her. Her last public appearance on the platform was at a concert given by her pupils some few months ago, which was a great success. She loved her art, and was a most successful teacher, both of singing and music.” Miss Myers had taken much interest in the Trinity College practical examinations, for which several of her pupils had entered. In the theory examination of 1894 her pupils were very successful. The results of the 1895 examination, published some three months after Miss Myers's death, showed that quite a number of her pupils had successfully passed. It is probable that Miss Myers had overworked herself in preparing so many of her pupils for these examinations. Notwithstanding that she had so little time for relaxation, she took an active part as a member of the Ladies' Committee for the féte given to the poor children of the City on the Queen's Birthday. She had worked hard and taken great interest in the féte, and it was the last occasion on which she appeared out of doors. On the following day she complained of a severe headache, which developed into meningitis and typhoid fever. Great anxiety was felt as the daily papers mentioned from time to time the severity of the illness, but until Sunday, the 9th of June, much hope was entertained that she would recover. On the evening of that day, however, congestion of the lungs was added to the already terrible complication, and at six o'clock on the following evening, surrounded by the members of her grief-stricken family, she passed quietly from their midst. The following day was very stormy, but notwithstanding the high wind and the beating rain, a vast concourse assembled to pay a tribute of affection and respect. A bright life had been suddenly cut off, and all classes felt that Wellington had suffered a sad loss. To those who had so recently seen her in the blossom of life—her nimble fingers striking with such precision the responsive chords, and her sweet, flexible voice stirring the hearts of her listeners, Miss Myers's death was a great shock. To her parents, who almost doted on her, and to her brothers and sisters, who lavished their love upon her, it was a blow from which they can never quite recover. Among those present at the funeral were the Hon. R. J. Seddon (Premier), Mr. C. M. Luke (Mayor), and several councillors and ex-councillors, Mr. H. D. Bell, M.H.R., the Rev. J. Paterson, Mr. Robert Parker, and the prominent members of the Choral Societies, a number of the leading merchants, a numerous following of the Hebrew congregation, the children of the Terrace School, and a large gathering of private friends. Over seventy beautiful wreaths testified to the loving sympathy of those who mourned the loss of the young and beautiful life so suddenly terminated—a life worthy of the closest imitation.
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The Late Miss Myers.