CENTENARIAN’S DEATH

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 49, 22 November 1926, Page 8

CENTENARIAN’S DEATH

CHEERFUL TO THE END Dominion Special. Auckland, November 20. An old resident of this city, William Reeves, died to-day at Knox Home, Tamaki, at the great age of 101 years. He was perhaps the only instance in which a man at the age of 99 years had his leg amputated successfully. This was the result of being knocked, down by a motor-car sJme years previously. He was awarded damages at the time, and the Court then referred to his good age as a reason for not making the amount larger. When well on to the centurv Mr. Reeves could chat about early days, and thoroughly enjoyed his pipe. He remarked to a friend shortly before he passed the 100th milestone that all lie wanted was another leg so that he could get round the garden. He was a gardener by profession, and was born at Maidstone, Kent, England. Later he was sent to London and helped to lav out the gardens at the Crystal Palace under Sir Joseph Paxton in the days of the Prince Consort.. Mr. Reeves came to New Zealand in the ship India over half a century ago. and was in the employ of the late Mr. Robert Graham for the purpose of laying out the Ellerslie garden, now part of the racecourse. For the same employer he also helped to lay out the gardens at the. Waiwera Hotel.