LONG LIVES END

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 120, 23 May 1941, Page 4

LONG LIVES END

HUNDRED YEARS OLD SOUTH ISLAND RESIDENT (P.A.r GREYMOUTH, this day. Mrs. Mary Ann Jacobs, who attained her 100 th birthday on February 18 last, died at her residence in Cobden this morning. A native of the Isle of Wight, she arrived In Nelson with her husband and four children on the Adamant after a voyage of 93 days. The family transhipped to Wallace. Arriving in Greymouth in 18/4, they took up land at Omoto, where deceased lived for GA years before removing to Cobden. Mrs. Jacobs' husband died in 1922. Of a family of ten, one daughter and three sons survive. There are also 29 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

MR. GEORGE GEE MINETY YEARS IX DOMINION A freeman of the city of London, and a resident of New Zealand for 90 years, Mr. George Gee. of Castlebar, Khyber Pass, has died in his 100 th year. The freedom of London was conferred on Mr. Gee's father in 1841, and as Mr. Gee was the first son born after that, the freedom of the city descended to him on the death of his father.

He was the last survivor of a family of nine who migrated from London to New Zealand in 1851 on the Canterbury Association's vessel Sir George Pollock. Landing at Lyttelton, he entered business at Christchurch and resided there for some years. Subsequently he lived at Timaru and Dunedin before coming to Auckland in 18S1. With the exception of five years spent at Tauranga, he has resided continuously in Auckland. Together with Mr. W r illiam Dalian, he managed the Coffee Palace, which was Auckland's leading restaurant in the 'eighties, and stood near the bottom of Queen Street, when the sea came up as far as Fort Street. Mr. Gee retired from active life about 40 years ago. In 1862, he married Miss Elizabeth Ann Wood, of Castlebar Lodge, Ealing, who carrie to New Zealand on the same ship. Until his death, Mr. Gee's memory remained perfectly clear and he was able to recall in vivid detail many historical happenings. He enjoyed remarkable health until abo; t a month ago, and except for impairment of his sight and hearing he was able to take a keen interest in everyday affairs. Mr. Gee is survived by two sons and three daughters. There are 12 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.