96, WELL AND HAPPY

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 20, 24 January 1924, Page 10

96, WELL AND HAPPY

There is no slackened interest taken by the early settlera and their desoepdanta in recalling the historio past of their country, as the gathering at Dustin's Rooms on Anniversary Day proved. On this occasion on© of the most notable guests proved to be Mr. H. T. W. Southeo, now of Foilding, ■ but who resided in the Hutt Valley for sixty years. Mr. Southee came to Now Zealand in 1841, -with his parents, and is now 96 years of age. He served in th 9 Maori War, and in an unassuming way took part in putting a wild country in order, and thus assisted to make possible the accomplishments of the present time. Even now Mr". Southeo jb happiest when working in his garden, and gratified his fripnds in Wellington the other day by presenting them with a liberal supply of potatoes which he had grown, and a fine sample they proved to be. Mr. Soathee has apparently discovered that in congenial employment there is to be found the basis of a happy, contented, and long life. In his old age, ha is still interested in the problems of the time, end in an unimpaired memory can recall vividly incidents of the past. Mr. Southee is not the only long-lived member of the family, as his eldest sister, Mrs. Short, of Otaki, oonfcinues to take an interest in tho affairs of the world at the groat age of 99.