SHE LOVES IT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 75, 30 March 1939, Page 13

SHE LOVES IT.

AIRWAYS TRAVEL. 92-YEAR-OLD ENTHUSIAST. HAS 109 DESCENDANTS. If there was an air service between Auckland and the Bay of Islands, it would most certainly be used sliortlv bv Mrs. T. Bell, of Empire Road, Ep'soni. when she travels north to attend the wedding- of one of her grandchildren. And this in spite of the fact that yesterday Mrs. Bell reached the age of 92 years! ~ But the flight would be nothing new to her. Last year she startled some of her 100 children, grandchildren, greatgrandchildren, and great-great-grand-children by deciding to use the airways on a -\ isit to U ellington. It seemed such an easy way of avoiding a drearv overnight journey. The pilot told her the weather would l)e pretty rough part of the wav, and she might have to be left behind a"t New Plymouth. "Will it be rougher than the Tasman ?" asked Mrs. Bell, to whom ocean travelling is nothing new either. The pilot grinned—and Mrs. Bell kept her seat in the 'plane. Thoroughly enjoying the journey, she hopes to repeat it this year after her visit to the Bay of Islands, to which she regretfully must travel by land. A resident of New Zealand for 7G years, Mrs. Bell was born in Australia, whence she came to Te Awamutu in 1863. Her father, Sergeant James ITeaton, had been sent over to serve in the Maori wars. Later the family took up farming at Rangiriri, and it was while tliev were there that Mrs. Bell was married. She and her late husband came to the Auckland district, and here Mrs. Bell has lived ever since. She has nine children living, 37 grandchildren, 59 great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren. Yesterday, on the occasion of her 92nd birthday, she was entertained by a sister, Mrs. A. Menzies, and members of the family at the Catholic Women's League rooms. Remarkably active and youthful in her outlook, Mrs. Bell continues to get every enjoyment out of life. The way she has taken to flying is proof enou"ii of that.