QUIET BIRTHDAY

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 302, 17 September 1936, Page 6

QUIET BIRTHDAY

Otago Pioneer 102 Years Old f Mrs, M. A. Orocome, of Musselburgh, Dunedin, who reachefl the age of 102 on Tuesday, celebrated her birthday very quietly, for she is of a retiring and modest disposition and had no desire for public recognition in any form of an occasion which, nevertheless, is of particular interest in view of her close association with the early history of Otago. Mrs. Crocome arrived in Otago as long ago as 1852 by the ship Stately, and she has remained in the province ever since. She was born in Edinburgh in 1834, and was only 18 years of age when she left her home country. She resided at Goodwood for two years before she married Dr. Joseph Orocome, who was the first medical practitioner in Otago. Dr. Crocome reached Otago as early as the year 1836. Born in Bath, he left England as a ship’s surgeon. The vessel was wrecked and it was from Sydney that he departed for the whaling settlement of Otakou. In 1840 he removed from Otakou to Waikouaitl, and with his medical duties, which required him to travel over a wide and sparsely populated area, he combined those of postmaster. He was in fact, the first man to fill that position in Waikouaiti.

After Dr. Crocome’s death in 1874 Mrs. Orocome continued to live in Waikouaiti until 1915, when she removed to Dunedin, and she now resides with her daughter, Mrs. E. Ritchie. Mrs. Crocome’s most vivid recollections are of pioneering days in Waikouaiti, and she is able to entertain her friends with Interesting stories of one of the most colourful periods in Otago’s history. In spite of he r great age she retains all her faculties and is alert in manner. She has never had a serious illness or accident Current events still have an interest for her, but, chiefly because she prefers to live quietly, she has not ventured beyond her home for some years. She has a small circle of friends, who And great enjoyment in visiting her, not only because of her ability to draw upon a fund of interesting recollections of Otago’s early days, but also because she possesses a charm of personality that has remained unaffected by the vicissitudes of so long a life.

Kippers should be thoroughly scalded with boiling water before grilling. The flesh expands visibly, and any excessive salt is removed.