VIVID MEMORIES OF EARLY OTAGO

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 108, 28 July 1927, Page 13

VIVID MEMORIES OF EARLY OTAGO

PIONEER’S 90TH BIRTHDAY Vivid impressions of the discovery of gold in Otago, and recollections of early Alelbourne, are retained by Mrs. Joseph Alartin, who will celebrate her ninetieth birthday at Devonport tomorrow. Born in the North of Ireland in 1837, a month after Queen Victoria acceded to the Throne, she sailed for Melbourne with her brother in 1854, in the ship SLiltana. After eight years in Victoria she came across the Tasman to Dunedin. A THRILLING EXPERIENCE Airs. Martin has a keen recollection of the little Alethodist Churcli on Ben Hill which was demolished by a gale. One Sunday morning, while the congregation was assembled for the service, a heavy gale was blowing outside, and the structure began to creak and sway in an alarming manner. Realising their danger the worshippers filed oLit of the church, which collapsed a few moments later. Shortly after her marriage Airs. Alartin went with her hLisband to Queenstown by an arduous pack-horse journey. Settling at Skipper’s Point they built a log hut there it was that their eldest son, “Skipper,” was born — the first white child of the district. During the last 35 years Mrs. Alartin has lived in Auckland. Of her seven sons four are in Auckland, one is farming near Hamilton, one is in Wellington and one in Christchurch. There are 34 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. A family reunion is to be held for her birthday to-morrow at the residence of her youngest son, the Rev. J. S. Alartin, of Devonport.