KNEW EARLY TAKAPUNA

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 605, 6 March 1929, Page 6

KNEW EARLY TAKAPUNA

MR. J. S. SHERIFF NOW 97 BUILT SHERIFF’S BRIDGE To fall over a verandah, and break his thigh-bone at the age of 94, and to be told by the hospital authorities that he might never walk again, was the experience of Mr. James S. Sheriff, of Grey Lynn. However, Mr. Sheriff is now walking about actively, and looks far less than his 97 years. Mr. Sheriff was one of the early inhabitants of Takapuna. He arrived in New Zealand in 1864, after having .served in the Royal Irish Constabulary tor 10 years. He bought 100 acres of land at Takapuna, near the Wairau Creek. He did a great deal of contracting work, in addition to farming, and built many of the roads in Takapuna, as well as a bridge over the Wairau, which was recently replaced, but which still bears his name. He was employed for some time by Sir John Logan Campbell, and Sir John—who was then Dr. Campbell—presented him with ICO acres of land where the Wairau Creek runs into the sea. He sold the land for about £lO an acre just before the Takapuna tramway was built, and then saw the land double and treble in value. Mr. Sheriff met his future wife on board ship on his way to New Zealand, and married her three days after they landed. She is some years younger than he, and both of them, in spite of their years, are in good health. Mr. Sheriff has almost completely recovered from his accident three years ago, and hopes still to reach his century.