105 YEARS OLD.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1554, 25 September 1912, Page 6

105 YEARS OLD.

AN EVENTFUL LIFE STOUT. 'i ißy TeleErapb.-Frcss Associations Duncdin, September 24. Mr. Hector M'Kinnon, who died in tha Old Mcu's Home on' Saturday, at the ago of 105 years, came of one of the besfl families'on the Wept of Scotland, and even as an old man who had known disappointments ho was courteous, kindly, and independent. In disposition ho was reserved, and even those who knew him best learned .but little of his life story, which was generally regarded as unusual. His birthplace was Kilbryde, in the parish of Strath, Island of fckye. When eight yenrs of ngo he went with his parents to live in Waterloo, about two nulca distant from Bradford. At the age of 15 he went to Inverness to learn, blacksmithing. Then be wont forth in ,the early days of emigration from the Hignlnnds of Scotland with immigrants from Sieved Ho proceeded to Australia and ma'do several voyages in early trailing vessels. Ho knew Australia before its gold was dreamed of, and ho afterwards experienced something of the excitement of unearthing tho gloaming treasure. Ho was at Gabriel's Gully and ho was one of tho first four at the Dunstan goldfields. Ho was also one of a_par£ of U who set out to walk to tho West toast nnd was one of three who survived to tell tho talc of strong men parting with their lives. Two years afterwards lie returned eastwards, and 27 years ago ho was working on the Otago Central Hailwav. The late Mr. M'Junnon lived for a number of years at Tort Chalmers. Mr. M'Kinnon's grandfather was ono of a crew of eight men who ook Prince Charlie" in a boat from tho Island of Skyo to tho mainland.