100 YEARS OLD

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20986, 13 December 1939, Page 11

100 YEARS OLD

LEVIN CENTENARIAN EARLY ARRIVAL IN DOMINION Mrs J. C. Retter, of Levin, celebrated her 100th birthday yesterday. She is the daughter of Captain Stickle, who traded between Wellington and Sydney in the Louise, and she was born in Sydney on December 12, 1839. A few weeks later she was brought to New Zealand in her father’s ship, i and has lived in New Zealand ever since. Her mother often travelled in j the Louise, and a brother of Mrs Reti ter was born on board, off Kapiti. i Hannah Stickle was married in 1861 | to Mr John Charles Retter, of Well- , ington, and lived at various times at ; Napier, Porirua, and Rangitikei. In 1885 her husband acquired a farm I known as Te Hou, on the Beach i Road, at Levin, overlooking the Horowhenua Lake. Later the farm was taken over by his son Fred and the family moved to Levin. In those days the district was covered with dense bush, and the life was hard. There was no resident doctor, and Mrs Retter having had experience in nursing, her ministrations were a bo<?n to the settlers. Mrs Retter, of whom Levin is very proud, and who is generally known as “ Granny Better.” has retained her