NINETY YEARS OF AGE.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 September 1922, Page 7

NINETY YEARS OF AGE.

DR. J. GILES’ BIRTHDAY. CELEBRATED ON SUNDAY. An anniversary of considerable interest was celebrated on Sunday, when Dr. J. Giles, one of Auckland’s best known pioneer citizens, completed his ninetieth year, he having been born in Somersetshire on September 3, 1832. As a young man, Dr. Giles went to the Crimean war as a surgeon, and while there he formed a personal friendship with the late Miss Florence Nightingale. He came to New Zealand in 1858, arriving in the ship Lord Ashley, and shortly afterwards took up land in the Mauku district. Subsequently he spent a few months in Otago during the time of the Gabriel’s Gully gold rush in the practice of his profession. Dr. Giles afterwards returned to Mauku, and lived there until the outbreak of the Maori War, during part of which time he acted as surgeon to the Ist Waikato Regiment. Upon resigning that appointment he resumed medical practice combining it with literary work for the Auckland newspapers. In later years he resided at Nelson, and then held the position of magistrate and warden on the west coast of the South Island, presiding over the Courts at Westport, Hokitika, and other centres. After leaving the West Coast he was magistrate at Wanganui, and in 1888 he was appointed to a similar position in Auckland. He held this position until 1893, when he retired from official life. He returned to Mauku and after spending a few years there settled permanently in Auckland. In the course of his long and eventful life, Dr. Giles has travelled far and left an influence for good wherever his life has touched that of others. At aJ’ times his strong leaning toward a hcerary life asserted itself. For many years he has been a valued contributor to the New Zealand Herald, and by his articles in the Saturday’s supplement arid his letters in the correspondence columns he has become known to a wide circle of readers in all parts of New Zealand. Hs last letter appeared in the Herald on May I's last, and in this he combatted with his usual vigor, a statement by Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch that total abstainers were imperfectly equipped for the appreciation of high literature. Dr. Giles has long been a total abstainer, both from alcoholic liquor and tobacco. Despite his advanced age, he retains the clear and vigorous mentality that has always characterised his literary work.