102 TO-DAY

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 299, 14 September 1936, Page 8

102 TO-DAY

Pioneer Who Arrived In Otago in 1852 QUIET CELEBRATION Dominion Special Service. Dunedin, September 13. Mrs. M. A. Crbcome, of Royal Crescent, Musselburgh, will reach the great age of 102 to-morrow. The event, however, is likely to be celebrated very quietly, as Mrs. Crocome is of a retiring and modest disposition and has no desire for public recognition in any form of an occasion which nevertheless ’is of particular interest because of her close association with the early history of Otago. Mrs. Crocome arrived in Otago in 1852 in the ship Stately and has remained in the province ever since. Shortly after her arrival she married Dr. Joseph Crocome, who was the first doctor to settle in Otago. He landed at the whaling station of Otakou, in 1836. He remained there until 1840, removing in that year to Walkouaiti, where he became the first postmaster. Mrs. Crocome’s most vivid recollections are of pioneering days in Wai, koualti, where she lived during the greater part of her life. lu spite of her great age she remains alert In manner and takes a keen interest in current events. ’ For some years, however, chiefly because she prefers to live quietly, she has not ventured beyond her own home where she resides with, her daughter, Mrs. E. Ritchie. She has a small circle of friends who find visiting her, not only because of her ability to draw upon a fund of interesting recollections of Otago’s early days, but also because of her great charm of personality.