105 YEARS OLD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 111, 26 September 1912, Page 7

105 YEARS OLD.

AX EVENTFUL LIFE STORY'. By Telegraph. —Press Association. Dunedin, September 24. Mr. Hector McKinnon, who died in the Old Men's Home on Saturday, at the age of 105 years, came of one. of the best families on the West of Scotland, and even as an old man who had known disappointments he was courteous, kindiy, and independent. In disposition he was reserved, and even those who knew him best learned but little of his life Hory, which was generally regarded as unusual. His birthplace was Kilbryde, in the parish of Strath, Island of Skye. When eight years of age he went with his parents to live in Waterloo, about two miles distant from Bradford. At the age of 1") lie went to Inverness to learn blacksmithing. Then he went forth in the early days of emigrants from the Highlands of Scotland with immigrants from Skye. He proceeded to Australia and made several voyages in early trading vessels. He knew Australia before its gold was dreamed of, and he afterwards experienced something of the excitement of unearthing the gleaming treasure. Tie was at Gabriel's Gully and lie was one of the first four at the Dunstan goldfields. He was also one of a party of 14 who set out to walk to the West Coast, and was one of the three who survived to tell the tale of strong men parting with their lives. Two years afterwards he returned eastwards, and 27 years ago he was working on the Otago Central Railway. The late Mr. McKinnon lived for a number of years at Port Chalmers. Mr. MeKinnon's grandfather was one of a crew of eight men who look "Prince Charlie" in a boat from the Island of Skve to the mainland.