AGED 103.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4527, 6 November 1930, Page 2

AGED 103.

OPOTIKI RESIDENT.

THE MAORI \V ( AR. RECALLED

Auckland, Nov. 4,

Bom at Bridgemouth, Shropshire, in 182-7, Mrs. Reece, of Opotiki, celebrated her 1.03 rd birthday yesterday. Although she has been bedridden for seven years, Mrs. Reece enjoys fairly good health.

Mrs. Reece was married in Worcestershire in 1857 and arrived in New Zealand with her husband, the late Mr. T. Reece, in the sailing ship Imrod, in November, 1804. They lived in Auckland for four years and then removed to Opotiki, where Mjrs. Reece lias resided ever since.

Mrs. Recce’s memory is still clear, and she is able to recount talcs of the Maori Wars when the white population used to take shelter in " "St. Stephen’s Anglican Church, .which was loopholed for rifle lire and was used as a fort. II; was during .these disturbed times that the Hauhaus, led hv Kereopa, carried the head of the murdered missionary, Rev. Mr. Volkner, and placed it on the pulpit of the church. Kereopa addressed the assembled Maoris from the pulpit. The Maoris hanged the missionary on a tree which stood behind where the Opotiki Post Office now stands. The old church still stands in a good state of preservation. Many years ago it was enlarged to include within its walls Mr. Vo 1 liner’s grave. Blood stains are still visible mi the pulpit. Mrs. Recce’s husband was at one time farrier with the. troops. He died about 30 years ago. Mrs. Reece- has n family.-, of 'two sons and three daughtres. There are over 30 grandchildren tuid about 20 grea t-grandchildren.