HIS 100TH YEAR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 306, 28 December 1939, Page 9

HIS 100 TH YEAR.

MR. JOB HUMPHRIES.

OBSERVES TWO CENTENNIALS.

New Zealand's Centennial Is a time of especial interest for Mr. Job Humphries of AHord Street, Avondale, who ■will celebrate his own centennial year in 1940. Born (at Welles, on December 12, 1840, Mr. Humphries is remarkably youthful and visits the city once or twice a week. _He recalls anxiong d of the Crimean War period and, with his parents, vm among tho cheering crowds who greeted England's heroine, Florence Nightingale, at Bath. Mr. Humphries and his wife reached New Zealand in 1872 by the vessel City of Auckland and, while employed by the contracting firm of Brogden, he assisted in turning the first sods for the railway line which now runs to Onehunga. The Government was at that time in the hnniU of the Stout-Vogel Ministry and tho "Southern Cross" was Auckland's newspaper. Still recalled by Mr. Humphries are the pertinent news cn'unins of the popular "Polly Plum." Mr. Humphries was employed at \vondale Mental Hospital for 15 years and rose to the position of senior attendant under Dr. Aitken, an early medical superintendent, and Mr Lowry, head attendant. Patients at first numbered 120 and the hoepital presented a very different appearance from the huge modern buildings of to-day, with their cultivated grounds and large number of resident inmates. Water for household purposes was carried from the creek and in pre-gas days light was diffused from oil lamps. Mr. Humphries was later associated willi nn Auckland firm as district collector until his retirement over 30 years njjo. After the death of his wife in 11)14, ho moved from Arch Hill to his present home in Alford Street, Avondale. Mr. Humphries' mind remains keep and clear, and although a severe attack of influenza in April last has affected his hearing, he continues to take nn active interest in Dominion and world affairs.