BIRTHDAY PARTY

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXV, Issue 12257, 22 February 1937, Page 2

BIRTHDAY PARTY

MRS ISABELLA MUNUO ENTERTAINED A number of friends • visited Mrs Isabella Munro on Thursday last to congratulate her, and to-, extend greetings on her 95th birthday. Mrs Munro is living with her son and daughter-in-law, Mr and Mrs J. B. Munro, of 6th Avenue. Many letters and telegrams, from all over the; Dominion were received by Mrs Mun-i ro, who accepted the felicitous messages and presents with philosophical and happy satisfaction. A Scottish | lady of Mrs Munro’a years has many reminiscences to tell of her early life. . She remembers the first rail-;, way opened between Elgin and Los- J siemouth, Scotland. The engine stood I on the line, and the interested peo-:j pie speculated as to whether they j were to travel in the boiler. The; passenger trucks had been detached. Having started, all were enjoying, the novel trip though holding on for; dear life, when a horse appeared on ! the line, and the train pulled up. Mrs Munro’s father, who was also ; riding in the new fangled contrap- ; tion, said, “Well, thank God, we’ll get along better with a horse pulling us.” Mrs Munro’s father was Mana-; ger of McConochie’s Fishing Works ( at Losiemouth and was a friend of ; the MacDonald family which in our« day produced a Prime Minister of „ Groat Britain, Mr Ramsay Mac Do- | aid. Mrs Munro went to school with : Ramsay MacDonald’s mother, and ro- j menders Ramsay MacDonald as a j hoy. who later earned about 4s per j week. Il

Mrs Munro (nee Bain), was born at Lossiemouth. North Scotland, on February 19, 1842, and later married William Munro, who was a mate on the China Clipper Capriolant, then engaged in the China tea trade. He was away from his home sometimes as long at three years at a time. Mr Munro later took a shore job at Dumbarton, and there resided for 23 years. Mr Munro was then in the service of the British India Company and whilst in that service, determined to come to New Zealand.- ; The family, consisting of Mrs Munro and four children, arrived in New Zealand in 1903, and Mr William Munro joined them immediately, coming direct from Calcutta. Mr Munro died some years ago, and Mrs Munro lias been living with her son, Mr J. B. Munro at Rotoiti until his retirement some years ago.

•Mrs Munro is not in the least degree helpless, but is active both bodily and mentally. She lias to resort to. glasses only for reading. Taking a keen and lively interest in religious matters. Mrs Munro is loved by her many friends, who fondly call her “Granny.”