96th BIRTHDAY

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 94, 7 May 1937, Page 3

96th BIRTHDAY

Mrs- H. Mullinder, of Otane

Yesterday, at a, ha.ppy birthday gathering at Otane, many people joined in wishing many happy returns to Mrs. Harriett Mullinder, for hers is a voiy remarkable birthday, in that it is her 96th, and it will also be recalled that it was only a few weeks ago that her brother, Mr. Walter Slat'er, of Napier, celebrated his 91st birthday. Born in London on May 6, 1841, Mrs. Mullindfer left England with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J ohn Sl,ater, when she was. 18 years of age, and incidentally, it .may be mentioned that whilst he lived in London, Mr. Slater was a tailor, one of 'his contracts being that of supplying the fur-lined coats for the fcoldiers in the Crimcan War, and Mre. Mullinder, as a member of the family, became quite an adept in working tho embroidery for these coats. Febrirary 3 appears to have been a remarkable date in the long life of this old lady, for the ship in which she sailed from England, the Wild Duck, arrived in Wellington on February 3, 1860, and it was on February 3, 1863, that she experienced the earthquake which many ' ' old-timers " consitTer was even heavier than tho disastrous 'quake of February 3, 1931, which 'was also experienced by Mrs. Mullinder. On the arrival of the family in Wellington, Napier was selected as their home, and this place had to be reached by transhipping to a small coastal ves scl, The White Swan, a . co'incidence being that- the whole journey was carried out in a Wild Duck and then in a White Swan. Soon after arrival in Napier, the Slater famjly set up- in business, nnd shortly after wards, Miss Harriett Slater was marrifed to Mr. Samuel Windsor, and moved to Waipawa. The un-t-imely death of her husband, however, was respoasiblc for her again rcturning to Napier and some time later, she was married to Mr. G. MulJinder, of jfalai;gata. Mr. Mullinder died some 35 years ago. Despite her great age, Atrs. Mullinder c-njoys wonder'ful health, and certainiy looks and feels Well enough to reach the centuxy. Her eyesight and hearing are slightly impaired, but beyond this she keeps, remarkabjy well and possessea an amazing. memory which enables. her tc recount many interesting happenings of the early. days. She is. at present residing with her daughter, Mrs. A. Kiiight, of Otane, and*the birthday party is being held at Mrs. Knight's residence. In addition to Mrs. Knight, there are two daughters, Mrs. B. Sims, Sydney, and Mrs. W. L. Yates, Napier, still living and also three sons, Messrs. A. H. Mullinder, Hastings, A. A. Mullinder, Norsewood, and G. Mullinder, Auckland.