Biography contributed by Wendy Napier-Walker
M Yates was born Mary Theresa Bryne, Ireland to Peter Bryne and his wife Bridget Ward. She was baptised on 10 May 1864 at St James church, Dublin city, Dublin, Ireland.
Mary Bryne came to New Zealand on the maiden voyage of the ship Iconic in 1883.
On 17 October 1887 Mary married George Henry Yates at St Peter’s Church, Wellington.
The 1893 and 1896 electoral rolls record Mary Theresa Yates, living in Moir street, Wellington, with George living in Tory Street. By 1899 they were living at 19 Queen Street, Wellington. In 1902 the family had moved again and was living at 14 Adelaide Road, Newtown and by 1914 they had moved to 437 Adelaide Road. They remained there until their deaths.
In her obituary it stated that around 1896 Mary Yates 'joined the ‘Evening Post’ staff and from then until her recent illness she was associated with the sale of the ‘Evening Post’ outside the office. During her years of service, she made a wide circle of acquaintances and her death will be felt by many, including the large number of newsboys to whom she was endeared'.
She was described as a 'very well known and respected figure in Wellington'.
Mary was survived by eight children.
Mary Theresa Yates died at home on 20 March 1938 age 75 years and was buried in the Karori cemetery, Wellington with her husband George in the Roman Catholic section/W/104. George was buried on 6 December 1929.
Sources
Ancestry – New Zealand Electoral Rolls
New Zealand Times 18 October 1887, page 4 – Marriages
NZ DIA Marriage Index 1887/1120 Mary Theresa Bryne/George Henry Yates
Dominion 6 December 1929, page 1 – Funeral Notices
NZ DIA Death Index 1929/8404 George Henry Yates
NZ DIA Death Index 1938/16721 – Mary Theresa Yates
Evening Post 21 March 1938, page 1 – Funeral Notices
Dominion 22 March 1939, page 13 – Obituary
Evening Post 21 March 1938, page 11 – Obituary