Signed family name
Laurent
Signed given name
L. M.
Given address
Kingsland Auckland
Notes
Biographical information provided by Helen Smith, Alexander Turnbull Library, for the He Tohu exhibition:
Lothee (or Lottie) Maria Laurent, daughter of Prosper and Lucie Laurent, was born in London in 1867. In 1877 Lothee and her family immigrated to Auckland on the SS Hero. She became postmistress at Raglan, Tangowahine, Toka Toka and Aratapu, and also worked as a telephonist. She was a good friend of Sir Walter Buller and Rt Hon Richard Seddon and a strong supporter of the Liberal Party, SPCA and National Council of Women. In 1920, when she was 52, she married Patrick Diamond, a returned soldier 20 years her junior. They settled in Dargaville and adopted four boys. Lothee died in 1963 aged 95 years.