HEALTHY OLD AGE

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 145, 20 June 1936, Page 11

HEALTHY OLD AGE

A WOMAN OF 93 MOTHERED LARGE FAMILY (Special to the "Evening Post.") PALMERSTON N., This Day. To live to the age of 93 years and still enjoy comparatively good health is a privilege of few. The distinction attaches to Mrs. Helen Stewart Buick, of Taiakitahuna, who celebrated her birthday on Wednesday. With the exception of being a little deaf, she enjoys all her faculties, enjoys a good meal, and is able to walk about with the aid of a stick. There was a family gathering to celebrate the birthday. A cake was cut, and the customary congratulations conveyed. Mrs. Buick was born at Waiwetu, Lower Hutt, on June 17, 1843, her parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. McEwan, having arrived from Scotland in 1841. She married when she was 23 years of age, and set up home with her husband at Belmontt, Lower Hutt. In 1879 the family decided to move to the Manawatu. The journey was made by covered-in dray along the old military road up the Horokiwi Valley to the top of Paekakariki and then along the beach to Foxton. Mr. and Mrs. Buick walked most of the way on foot while their nine children rode in the dray. The final stage of the journey to Karere was made in the train. Six months after arriving in the Manawatu, Mr. Buick. who died 36 years ago, took up a 270 acres block of heavy bush land on Jackeytown Road, Taiakitahuna. The first job was to cut out a small half-acre clearing, on which a four-roomed house —two rooms downstairs and two above —was built. The old house has long disappeared, after serving as a stable. Four more children were born at Taiakitahuna, bringing the total to 13, of whom eight are still living. They are Mesdames Edwards (Palmcrston North),'J. Crothers (Wanganui), R. J. Seddon (Taiakitahuna), and Irwin (Datinevirke)', Messrs. J. and D. Buick • Taiakitahuna), A. Buick fKauwhata). and 11. Buick (Johnsonville). There were three lots of twins in the family, which must be something of a record. There is a possibility that. Mrs. Buick could lay claim to the honour of being the oldest living New Zealander borri and bred.