A NOTABLE BIRTHDAY.

Shannon News, 17 August 1926, Page 4

A NOTABLE BIRTHDAY.

MRS BRADLEY’S HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY. (From the Levin Chronicle.) Some two hundred-people gathered at the Convent schoolroom yesterday to ; take part in a rare and memorable event—the celebration of the hundredth birthday of a much-respected resident of Levin. The subject of this gathering, despite her live score years, and though suffering from the physical frailty attendant on so great an age, nevertheless was able to enter into the spirit of the occasion and showed her keen appreciation of the honour done her. His Worship the Mayor (Mr T. Hobson) presided olver a representative gathering of townspeople, including visitors from other parts oft New Zealand. Many telegrams of congratulation were read, including that of the Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates), which contained the following message: “Please accept my warm greetings and hearty congratulations on the attainment of your one hundredth birthday, which I understand you celebrate to-day. I wish you many happy returns and trust that your future years will be blessed with good -health.” The proceedings were opened by the Mayor who said they had assembled to celebrate the hundredth anniversary of the first person living in Levin to attain that age. In the Old' Country the King always sent a message or attended in person in any case where anyone attained 'the age of one hundred years, and, as representative of the people of Levin he could, not do better than follow the precedent in a humbler degree. He thanked the Almighty that Mrs Bradley had been spared to live to such an age. To him it seemed a remarkable age, but to more elderly people it did nott present itself from the same aspect. Pioneers of New Zealand deserved to be ranked in the same category as men like Captain Cook, Captain Scott, Amundsen and Gobham, who had gone forth and blazed the trail, in many cases returning, building roads, bridges and so forth, so that we, of this generation, might enjoy the luxury, denied them. In the olden days, hardships had toi be contended with, people , often had to go hungry through the failure of boats, or the flooding of rivers, delaying This was one only of the difficulties the pioneers' had to endure. Mr and Mrs Bradley took up land when the block first opened at Ohau and M.r,s Bradley was still a settler there. That was the spirit the Government, wanted—(people settling on the land and staying there as Mr and Mrs Bradley had done. The pioneers were not like the present-day Citizens, clamouring for footpaths, gas, electricity and motor cars, neither did they want food brought to their doors, but went miles on foiot and pack-horses, or in bullock-drays to fetch it. They also had to cut the timber to build their own houses. These were the people that made the best citizens. When Mrs Bradley reached Ohau she had reached the allotted span of seventy years, yet here she was thirty years later —well and hearty, and a hundred years of age.' He hoped she would be spared several more years. Well-wishers throughout • the district, including many aged invalids, joined in helping to: give Mrs Bradley something to, commemorate the great occasion. He took pleasure in handing Mrs Bradley a silver tea-set, together with a tray suitably inscribed, and bearing the 'Mayor’s signature as representative of the citizens of Levin and district. \An invalid chair was being constructed that would enable her to get out into the fresh air and enjoy the sunshine. He concluded by wishing her health and strength for the remainder off her days.

Mr P. W. Goldsmith sincerely and heartily congratulated Mrs Bradley on living through the most wonderful century in history. Looking back to 1826, and viewing the state of Great Britain and the rest of the world at that time, when a man was hanged for stealing a fowl or cutting down a tree and when one thought off the civil and religious liberties gained through the century; of the great inventions; the wonderful people who lived during the lifetime of Mrs Bradley, it was remarkable to think that Levin had in its midst one who had seen all these changes, and who was born four years before the first locomotive was built. He had known Mrs Bradley for. many years, and often marvelled that a lady of her age should possess the necessary strength enabling her to walk from Ohau to Levin on Sundays arid week-days. She had been a regular attendant at church until recent years, a, wonderful achievement for one of her age. He congratulated her upon her family, the two remaining sons having been in business throughout the district, and whose honesty and integrity gained for them the respect of the Whole countryside.

As one of the oldest inhabitants of the district, Mr F. G. Roe, re-echoed the sentiments of the previous speakers. He mentioned the names of several of the earliest settlers who came to the district at the same time as Mrs Bradley, and sheaved that scarcely any of these now remained. The difficulties which they encountered were also dwelt, upon. For old times’ sake fie was very pleased to be able to again shake hands with Mrs Bradley. Mr Jas. McLeavey said he was pleased to congratulate Levin’s centenarian, whom he had known for the last thirty years. In a neat and complimentary speech, tinged with humour, he tendered advice to the other ladies present as toi how they too might attain the age of Mrs Bradley. Th* Rev. Father Melu, also a very

early resident in the district and an old friend of Mrs and the late Mr Bradley and their family, instanced many hardships and difficulties when tlxe best means of conveyance had been by horse and trap along muddy, hush roads. He hoped it would be the will of God that Mrs Bradley should live several more years, and he felt sure that when she at last departed she would have earned the reward in store for a good life. t Judge Gilfedder said he honoured the people of Levin for assembling to pay their respects to their centenarian pioneer. Invercargill, where he hailed from, honoured Its pioneers and he said the people there would be glad to know that this view was also held by North Islanders. Toq often New Zealanders were wanting in respect for the elderly folk. As yet there were no New Zealand born centenarians, but the bulk of the people were descendants of British stock, carrying with them the ideals and aspirations of tile people of die Old Country and it was avpleasurc that the ideals of our Fatherland prevailed. The Rev. Father’ Lynch said that Mrs Bradley had reminded him that morning not to forget to come to the picnic that afternoon. Sim must be a good cricketer’ as she had made a hundred and was still batting (laughter). '“A century seemed difficult to imagine, but some idea of the magnitude of a century might be gained by the thought that Mrs Bradley had lived under five British sovereigns. She was born during the reign of George the Fourth, and was a girl of twelve when Queen Victoria was crowned. The speaker enumerated the great people .that Mrs Bradley could have known—Napoleon had been dead only five years when she was horn, and she could’have known and conversed with men who had fought with Wellington at Waterloo; with old men who knew the first President of the United States and who fought in the War of Independence. She had seen the rise and fall of kings and empires, and could have been present with Florence Nightingale at the Crimea. All this helped one to realise the length of her years and had she but time to write her memoirs they , would have been very interesting' ipdeed. She was one of the good type of hardy pioneers born almost before New Zealand, as we understand it, was 'established. He doubted whether he would be right in wishing her many happy returns of the day, as that would be cheating heaven of a good soul. He was happy in associating himself with the people of Levin and its surrounding district in their congratulations. Mr M. Murphy, brother of Mrs Robert Bradley, on behalf 'of Mrs Bradley and her family, sincerely thanked all present for the feelings of goodwill and to the speakers for the beautiful sentiments expressed. Mrs Bradley was deeply stirred by the floral and other offerings, and by the fact that the people had so gathered to honour her.. He was grateful to the donors of the beautiful presents, and to* all those who conveyed their good wishes by way of telegrams and letters. The Mayoress (Mrs T. Hobson) presented several bouquets from herself and her friends, also one to Eileen Bradley, who is Mrs Bradley’s only grandchild. At the invitation of/the Mayor, the assemblage then partook of afternoon tea, supplied by the ladies, after which moving pictures of Mrs Bradley, members of her family and their friends were taken by Mr Les. Scott. The proceedings terminated with the singing of “Auld Lang Syne.” Mrs Bradley and Messrs R. and J. Bradley desire to express their gratitude to those responsible for the organisation of the celebrations and all the work attendant upon a function that was absolutely successful from every standpoint. The bouquet presented to Mrs Bradley was kindly given by Madame de Roux, the ribbon being given by the C. M. Ross Company.