BROTHERS MEET.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 231, 30 September 1929, Page 7

BROTHERS MEET.

AFTER LONG YEARS. Aged Brothers' Reunion In Bradford. TWjO FROM NEW ZEALAND. (Australian Tress Assn. —United Service.) • (Received 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, September 29. One of the strangest reunions on record occurred at Bradford, when brothers, whose ages aggregate 217, met for the first time for many years. They are John Pearce Smith, 77, and Frederick George Smith, 70, both from Napier, New Zealand, and Arthur Smith, of Bradford, who entertained his brothers at dinner. The family was originally Cornish, but depression in tin mining resulted in John and Frederick going to sea at the age of fourteen. They became captains and were never home on leave together. Finally they settled down in 2?ew Zealand. Arthur says he is proud that his brothers have done their share in the colonisation of New Zealand. John has six married daughters, 22 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, and Fred has five married children and several grandchildren. John was a member of the New Zealand bowling team in 1921. The brothers have arranged their next meeting for 1932.

Mr. J. P. Smith is head of the firm of Warren, Smith and Co.. wine and spirit merchants, of Napier, while Mr. F. G. Smith has an extensive carrying business. The latter was a captain in the Naval Volunteers, and is prominent in the Xapier Park Racing Club. He has served on the Xapier Borough Council.