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Zakerias

Here is the Probate file for Thomas JONES (died 29 December 1966 at Auckland -- details match with the Thomas JONES - NZ Army - Reg. #  11/1814 ) 

https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE42030744

While his estate was bequeathed to "his children", they are not named in his Will (or codicil).

The only thing of interest may be the notes, which states he is a resident of Oakley Hospital, Auckland ( a "mental" asylum) ... and prior to this he had been admitted on 25 July 1963 to the 
Porirua Hospital (a similar institution), at Wellington.

    ~  Lu

Still no sign of Katie Adeline Jones or Ethel Ruth Jones (daughters).

Yes, a bit puzzled as to why you say "no sign" of these daughters. 

The Ethel Ruth JONES who married Francis Charles HOLMES in (NZ) 1931, is able to be confirmed as having been the daughter of "Thomas JONES of Wellington".
[  Source :    "New Zealand Who's Who" *  - Edition of 1938 :     Francis Charles HOLMES was a well-known merchant who resided in Wellington NZ.   Added: available at ancestry.com ]

   ~  Lu

This is just an index listing at Archives NZ. 
It indicates that Alexander Edmund EDWARDS was in New Zealand from 1875.
https://collections.archives.govt.nz/en/web/arena/search#/entity/aims-archive/R25803032/new-zealand-certificate-of-competency-as-master-of-a-home-trade-passenger-ship---alexander-edmund-edwards?q=Alexander+edmund+Edwards&source=aims-archive


We do have a "list" of Mariners / Seamen relating to New Zealand.
Have used before but can't find at present      Maybe someone else will be able to find it and post the link here.   

   ~  Lu

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/15979519?searchTerm=Jane%20Edwards

^   Probate notice - Jane EDWARDS - sole executor Sydney Alexander EDWARDS   ^

  ~  Lu

Jan ...
we are in some ways lucky that New Zealand was the first country to give "women the Vote" in 1893.   

That means that there is the possibility of finding much more information for women of that era, than there might be for say, Australia / UK etc.    But there are no guarantees.   

The newspapers of the day ran the usual "gossip" columns ... and social columns featuring mostly "the well-to-do".     There were reports of women who committed crimes etc. / and those who were witnesses to same named in court cases ...  in fact all manner of everyday activites were reported on, but not every woman came to the attention of the press. 

A picture though of a woman's life at that time, can still be built by utilising snippets of information gained from various sources :    e. g.  Newspapers of the day " what was happening in the area in which she lived / how did her life in New Zealand compare to what she had left behind in the country she came from" etc. etc.    Newspapers are a good starting point for further research.

Here's the link to NZ PaperPast  >    https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers

   ~  Lu