112 YEARS OLD

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23589, 17 March 1942, Page 6

112 YEARS OLD

MR PATRICK HAMILTON Without doubt the oldest man in the Dominion and almost certainly the oldest white man in the British Empire. Mr Patrick Lucas Hamilton, of Mackenzie road. Pleasant Point. South Canterbury, celebrates to-day his one hundred and twelfth birthday. Born in County Donegal. Ireland, on St. Patrick’s Day, in the reign of George IV. Mr Hamilton came to New Zealand

and settled at Pleasant Point in 1869. and the cob hut he built himself at that time he has lived t in ever since and is living in it to-day. Some time ago investigation was made to prove beyond dispute the year in which Mr Hamilton was born, and from reports sent from Ireland the question was cleared up to the satisfaction of all. On an earlier birthday a • congratulatory cablegram was received from the King and Queen, and this is not done except where the authority for the proving ot the age is beyond doubt. , . . Mr Hamilton, who, during his long life, has worked at all classes o.‘ farming is to-dav still enjoying good health, which until he broke a leg about two years ago was perfect. He is in possession of all his faculties, and is able to tell from memory the many interesting stories of his life, which has so far been spent under seven British monarchs.