STURDY NONAGENARIAN.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 267, 10 November 1928, Page 12

STURDY NONAGENARIAN.

MR. WILLIAM CLARKrOF PAPAROA. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) t \' ! PAPAROA, this day. Many residents of .the Paparoa and Northern Wairoa districts assembled in the Garrison Hall last night, at the invitation of Mr. and Mrs; H. H. Sutherland, on the occasion of-the 91st birthday'of Mr. Willianv Clark, formerly of Woodlands, Tokatoka. It was a happy gathering, which enjoyed itself in reminiscences. .-• : " Mr. Clark came to New Zealand with his parents in 1842 in the ship Indus, which was the second immigrant ship to"'reach Nelson. \ The family-..lived there for four years and then in 184(5 went to .Auckland. Mr. ..Clark, senior, was? for seven: years in and around Auckland, being largely .engaged-in pitsawing at"-Freeman's Bay, Lucas Creek and other places. In 1853 the family moved to the Northern Wairoa. This was nine yeans before, the memorable landing s of the who peopled. Port Albert, Paparoa, *Matakohe and Maungatufoto. The family settled at Wihakahara, and Mr. Clark,'with his-brother and father, shared the heavy work common .to the early settlers. When he married lie settled at Woodlands, near Tokatoka, and became a successful farmer. His house was" for "years a well-known stopping place'for travellers and cattle drivers on' the way from Paparoa to Wairoa,

Mr. Clark's -wife died in 1906.and his father in 1909. "He is stall, hale and hearty, except for rheumatism. -■ His memory is remarkably good, and he recalls incidents from his earliest years. Congratulations were ; tendered him by ■Mr, J. H, -Trounsonj the first son of Buropeaa parents bota in P&paroa,