PAST THE CENTURY

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 13, 15 July 1937, Page 10

PAST THE CENTURY

MR. JOHN KILMISTER

One of Wellington's early settlers, Mr. John Kilmister, of Cottleville Terrace, was 101 years of age yesterday and his birthday was celebrated by a small family gathering at the residence. Mr. Kilmister is known to many Wellingtonians but particularly to the older Karori residents, who remember him as a great walker and one who extracted the fullest pleasure out of his walks. His hearing, memory, and eyesight are not as good as they were, nor is he able to do as much walking as was his custom.

Mr. Kilmister was born at Bath. England, and. with his parents, arrived in New Zealand on March 17, 1841. Except for a little time in the South Island, he has lived in or near Wellington ever since. The first home of the Kilmister family was a hut at the top of Bolton Street.

For many years Mr. Kilmister was farming at Karori. His wife died in 1931 at the age of 88 years. Mr. Kilmister neither smokes nor takes alcoholic liquor, and he has always made a practice of eating a little less than he feels able to eat.