100th Birthday

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 31, 7 February 1939, Page 9

100 th Birthday

. ..a o:.i> European centenarian in *'■'-s Sophia Ginger, of Hawera, celebrates her 100 th birthday to-day, states our New Plymouth correspondent. Of her eighty-seven years in New .. , ~nsß finger has spent -~"y the whole period in the Taranaki province. Born in Monmouthshire, on the Welsh border, in 1839, iVliss Ginger came to New Zealand with her parents from London in the ship Joseph Fletcher, arriving at New Plymouth when she was thirteen on October 8, 1852. When he Maori wars began friendships \at Miss Ginger's father had formed ith the natives stood them in good 3tead. They received a friendly •varning of the Maoris" advance on New Plymouth and fled from their home at Tataraimaka, which was ■ urned. Miss Ginger spends much of her time reading and maintains a lively interest in current affairs. Writing and gardening also occupy some of her time. Miss Ginger's sister Mrs. Edward Wright, died at Hawera in June last year at the age of 94. Miss Ginger has received messages of congratulation from the King and Queen and from Lord Galway and Lady Galway.