Of A Very Superior Class

James and Elizabeth PINK immigrated to New Zealand in 1874, leaving behind an impoverished rural economy in Kent. They settled in Waianiwa near Invercargill, built a house and raised a family of eleven children. James worked as a labourer and horticulturalist and Elizabeth signed the 1893 Women's Suffrage Petition. Their life was not without misfortune. Four of their children died as infants, a son was killed in a forestry accident, two sons succumbed to pernicious anaemia (a family disease), a son-in law had a serious accident collecting firewood, two grandsons drowned as children, and a granddaughter died of appendicitis. On the positive side, only one son went to the First World War, returning without any wounds, but was probably gassed. Despite these obstacles, eight of James and Elizabeth PINK's children went on to produce 41 grandchildren.