A LOWER HUTT CENTENARIAN.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1640, 21 November 1916, Page 3

A LOWER HUTT CENTENARIAN.

MRS. ANN SMITH’S RECEPTION. An event, probably unique in the history ol; Lower Unit, was celebrated yesterday (says the Post). :,( the residence of Mr W. .1. Smith, Steven’s road, when Mrs Ami Smith held a reception on the occasion of her lOOlh birthday. Mrs Smith was horn in County Derry (her maiden name being Dool), where she lived until she was thirty years of age, helping- to support herself and the family by weaving the famous Irish linen. She emigrated to Australia about 1840, and was married in Sydney, living there and in Melbourne for some eight years, when she came over to Canterbury, where she resided for over (10 years, being a resident of

Kaiapoi for 50 years. Homo two years ago she came to reside at. Lower Butt with her only son, Mr W. •). Smith. Mrs Smith is astonishingly unlive, and gets a hunt the house and grounds with imt slight assistanee. from a walking sliek. She is <juito robust:, and with the exeeption of a slight deafness has all her famities unimpaired. Her memory of events of her youth is wonderful. She attributes her attainment of her great age to an active life and plain living. Out of seven children she has left only one son and a daughter. She has, however, 21 grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren. At the present lime, there .are four generations living in the house. Mrs Smith received yesterday numerous presents and loiters, one being from the Mayor of Kaiapoi. Among (he guests yesterday were many old friends, some of whom have reached a great age. They have arrived from all parts of the Dominion to do honour to llieir old friend.