FAMILY REUNION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 88, 15 April 1941, Page 8

FAMILY REUNION.

OVER ALLOTTED SPAN.

OTAGO "OLD IDENTITIES."

A family reunion of some historical as well as personal interest was celebrated in Duuedin recently, when the surviving members of the oldest living family of Port Chalmers assembled in the old home town. The party consisted of the surviving seven sons and daughters of the ten members of the Lainp family at Port Chalmers, the oldest being Mr. E. B. Laing, now resident in Ellerslie, Auckland.

Their parents arrived nt Port Chalmers in the ship Idra in IS(V2 on that vessel's last voyage. The Idra never sailed the seas again, and is now a coal hulk at Port Chalmers, ller skipper, Captain Gtinn, subsequently became a pilot at Port Chalmers, end was eventually drowned at the port heads.

Those who took part iu the reunion are: Mr. E. B. Laing. of Auckland, S."i years; Mrs. Annie Wilson, of Dnnedin, aged S3 years; Mr. J. W. Laing, of Sawyer's Bay. Duuedin. aged HI years: Mrs. E. J. Mundwy. of Melbourne, aged 70 years; Mr. W. B. Laing, of Dunediii. aged 7ti years; Airs. A. S. Bird, of Timaru, aged 74 years; and Mr. G. Lainp. of Patea. aged 72 years. All over the allotted span of life their combined ages make 011 aggregtae of .">.">() years.

It will be observed that the family lias become dispersed over various parts of cw Zealand. Two of tliein are well known in Auckland. Mrs. A. S. Bird, a* the wife of Police Sub-Inspector Bird, spent a number of years in the city before her husband's transfer to Timaru. Mr. E. B. Idling has had closer connection with the life of Auckland city. For a number of years he lived 011 Norfolk Island, of which he has very pleasant recollections. He married when there, and later came to Auckland, where Inlived for 12 years for the purpose of educating the family. His sons are well known as Rugby League football piavers. one of them, B. Laing. lieing a Xew Zealand representative. In the season 1021-22 this son was the only Xew Zealand player in the Australasian League football team that toured England. As a lad Mr. E. B. Laiiwj worked for a time on the making of the railway line which was later opened as the first railway between Christchurch and Dun edin. In his retirement he is now a resi dent of Eller.-lie.