GRANNIE SARAH COLLINS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1736, 10 July 1917, Page 3

GRANNIE SARAH COLLINS.

Grannie became a nonagenarian last Saturday, July 7th, for she was. born in 1827. She is the oldest Foxton resident, and perhaps the oldest person in the district. Neighbours and friends and her own people feted her on that day, and presented her with little tokens of affection and esteem, among which were a few packages of tobacco. Grannie dearly loves her clay pipe, and enjoys her smoke immensely. Everybody loves to meet dear old Grannie Collins, who, notwithstanding her age, has always a pleasant smile to greet the visitor with. Her face is always a “Sunday face"; it never ’has any of that morosity which is repulsive and which alienates, but ever that kind and pleasant look that acts, as a loadstone, upon any one who comes within her presence.

Grannie Collins was horn in Edinburgh, and descends from sturdy Scotch stock. She sailed on “The True Briton’’ from Plymouth about the middle of May, 1852, and, after a continuous voyage, landed in Wellington on January 15th, 1853, the day on which her oldest son was one year old. She came to this district in 1855, settled here before Foxton had as much as a name, and had the distinction of: being the first white woman settlor. The country then was nought but a swampy bush. Grannie kept the cradle full, for she is the mother of twelve children, Her son James, with whom she is spending her days, emulates his parents, for he has reared a family of thirteen. Large families as these are ever and anon an asset to the country. Ad multos annos. We wish you many years yet, Grannie. And you, children and grandchildren, keep on; continue to take good care of your mother and grandmother. “Honour thy father and thy mother, that thou mayst be long lived upon the land.” (Ex. XX. 12).