A VERY OLD IDENTITY.

At diiferent times claims have been made on behalf of several persons being the firstborn white man or woman in New Zealand. A correspondent residing at Russell, writes to the _v_i- Zealand Herald on behalf of Mrs Letheridge, as being the first-born white woman in New Zealand. He states that Mrs Letheridge, who is now residing near Russell, is the eldest daughter of Mr Thos. Hanson, son of Captain Thos. Hanson, of the brig Active. He first arrived in New Zealand on Deeemher 14th, 1814, and one of his fellow-passengers was the Rev- Samuel Marsden. After a sojourn of several months Mr Thos. Hanson, jun., returned to Sydney, where he married Miss Elizabeth Toms of that city. The young couple immediately afterwards returned to New Zealand and settled at Oihi, where, eleven months later, their first child was born, the present Mrs Letheridge, who maintains that she was born at Oihi on the 11th January, 1816. Mrs Letheridge is still a hale and hearty woman, who thinks nothing of a four or five-mile walk, and has for her age a wonderfully retentive memory.' She is an excellent narrator, and has a perfect knowledge of the Maori language, usages, and customs.