A NOTED CENTENARIAN.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 November 1919, Page 10

A NOTED CENTENARIAN.

LONG AND VARIED CAREER. i A well-known centenarian, Mr. Thomas . William Winter, better known by his professiona' name of "Melchor Winter," . celebrated the 101st anniversary of his . birthday at Christchurch on Wednesday. Mr. Winter lias had a varied career. Born in Hereford on October 28, 1818, he j obtained a position when 13 years of ] age as a midshipman in H.M.S. Howe, 120 ■ guns, and served for three years. In the early ."sixties" Mr. Winter arrived at Auckland, and his first impressions were not of the pleasantest, for on the night of the ship's arrival the passengers were asked by those who came aboard if they had rifles, ae an attack by the Maoris* was expected. The attack did not take place, and Mr. Winter took employment on Dr. Hale's farm, in the Thames district. A little later he accepted a position as storekeeper at Raglan, his employer being Mr Simpson, the contractor for supplies for the troops. He was at Raglan for about two years, and, in the meantime, sent word for Mrs. Winter and family to come out to the Dominion. Mr. Winter gave up his position at Raglan, and, settling in the city, gave his first concert in New Zealand in the Choral Hall, Auckland, in October 1809. under the patronage, and in the presence of, Sir George Bowon (the then Governor of New Zealand), Lady Bowen, Colonel Elliott, and the officers'of the 18th Regiment. From that year on to 1900, Mr. Winter took part in concerts and operas in New Zealand and Australia. In Auckland lie was one of the vocalists at concerts given by the famous Madame Caradini. He also'taak part in 'The Creation" (Haydn), and later toured the Dominion with Miss M. E. Aitken (Mrs. J. L. Buntcn), appearing with her in plays like "Rob Roy" and "Guy Mannering." Ho sang at the Melbourne Exhibition concerts in 1872, and at the Sydney International Exhibition concerts in 1879. He was a member of the Kitty and Leon Opera Company, which played an extended season with "Les Cloches de Corneville" in Sydney, in the early part of 1880. In 1882 Mr. Winter was with William-1 son's Opera Company, of which the late Mr. J. C. Williamson and Miss Maggie Moore were members, and had parts in "Patience" and "La Fille de Madame Angot." During the period covered by the above brief sketch of Mr. Winter's musical career he had an experience of going on the land, his venture taking place in the Whangarei district. He discovered gold on his land, and he also endeavored to develop the limestone deposits. The Whangarei farm did not prove a success, the distance from the Auckland market and the difficulty of transport being two of the causes. Some time prior to embarking on this enterprise Mr. and Mrs. Winter kept a school in Auckland, kno%n as Melbourne House, and situated in Karangahape Road. When they returned to Auckland from Whangarei'Mr. Winter went into the sharebroking business, but it was not long before he took up musical work again. Mr. Winter ascribes his long life to the hardening he got during his three years in the Navy, and to the training he underwent when being instructed in singing and in particular the necessity for expanding the chest. To-day he is enjoying good health, and, with the aid of spectacles, ho still reads the daily papers.