"NEWS" FROM NEW ZEALAND.

Shannon News, 3 April 1925, Page 2

"NEWS" FROM NEW ZEALAND.

AMERICAN PRESSMEN LEARN THINGS. A visitor to California has evidently been enjoying himself at the expense of a San Francisco reporter, for in a recent issue the following article appears:— If Methuselah came back he would find rivals in the family of Alex. 3. Howard, of New Zealand, World War veteran, who is now hi San Francisco en route to his home. For Howard's father and mother of Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand, are 106 and .104 years old. And, according to "young" Howard, who is 59 years old, but looks years younger, his parents have bright prospects ot living quite a lew years longer.. - That is because his father is a retired physician and has always careluliy cared for his own health and that of his family of 25. to the couple during their 90 years of married life.

Howard said yesterday that in his younger days everyone rose at 6> a.m., dressed and went downstairs and received their morning "shot" of whisky; then tfitere was prayer, followed by oatmeal mush. Sixteen oi the children were boys and nine girls. There are five of Howard's sisters alive in New Zealand, ranging from 48 to 80, but only two of the "boys" are. living, including Alex. . The sons died "with their boots, on" —tliree in Ike Boer war; two in the Japanese war with Russia; one in the Indian uprising; and the rest in tne recent World War. Alex Howard, who has served twen-ty-one years with Scottish troops hi tne British Army, sustained more than thirty wounds m the World War, causing him blindness for. a year.