HALE AND HEARTY AT EIGHTY

Northern Advocate, 1 December 1936, Page 4

HALE AND HEARTY AT EIGHTY

MRS ANNE PETERS, A DELIGHTFUL PERSONALITY

If a person ever belied her years that person is Mrs Anne Jane Peters, of Portland Road. So hale and hearty is she that it is rather difficult to realise that she has celebrated her eightieth birthday. But this took place on Sunday, and, with a representative gathering of four generations of her family, she did justice to the occasion in a right royal manner. Mrs Peters is a typical old pioneering lady—one with whom it is really delightful to converse. She is endowed with a charming nature, a characteristic which has not deteriorated with the passing of the years. She also retains her faculties in a truly remarkable manner. Her hearing is only very slightly deficient, she reads comfortably- with the aid of spectacles and is as active on her feet as a woman of a much younger age. She partakes of the joys of life almost as freely as her children. It is no trouble for her to spend the evening at a theatre and thoroughly enjoy a film.

She is out of bed at half past five every morning. She is evidently a strong believer of the old saying, “Early to bed, early to rise, makes you healthy, wealthy and wise.” Pioneering Hardships. Mrs Peters is an example of the benefits to be gained from good hard work in one’s youth. As a pioneer, she experienced her full share of the hardships of the early days, but these have certainly fitted her for a healthy after-life. The high degree of vitality which she possesses today is shown by the fact that she often walks to the northern end of the town to visit members of her family and home agdin, a distance of four miles. Mrs Peters visited Auckland and Hamilton last Christmas, and intends doing so again next Easter. From the above facts, there is no doubt that her health today is Al, despite her venerable age. She sleeps well every night and her disposition generally is that of a happy old lady with not a care in the world. It was in 1856 that Anne Jane was born in Auckland, the eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs Jonathan Woods, the former having a cabinet-making business in Queen Street. At the age of 19, she married Mr Robert Peters, who, when a boy, had migrated from South Africa with his parents. Mr

Peters was a blacksmith by trade and for five years was employed in Auckland, the young couple having their home at Newton.

Then, however, Mr Peters decided to strike out on his own account, and, with his eyes focussed on the North, he headed for Hokianga with his wife and two children. He secured a job as a “smithy” in a timber mill at Kohukohu owned by Messrs Andrewes and Yarborough and Mrs Peters was the first white woman to live in the settlement.

Thrilling Experience,

But in this venture north Mrs Peters had an experience so thrilling as to live vividly in her memory always. Those were the days when roads were as scarce as horses and buggies are in the cities today. The trip from Auckland was undertaken by boat, the Peters being among the passengers on the Geelong, the coastal steamer engaged on the run. The vessel struck very bad weather and in the hazardous navigation of the Hokianga bar was within an ace of being wrecked. The position was so desperate) that much of the furniture belonging to the passengers was used as fuel for the boilers. Mrs Peters was one to Suffer in this respect, but this loss was undoubtedly the salvation of her life. Mr Peters was employed at the mill for only a few months before he established his own business, which he conducted for nine and a half years. The family then returned to Auckland, where they remained for some years, but the North .again issued its call and the Peters joined the population of Hikurangi, a very sparce place at that time. Mr Peters struck the anvil in a timber mill there for 11 months, but then forsook his trade to go on the land.

Fifty acres were acquired at Whananaki and for 20 years the family farmed there, Mr Peters filling in some of his time at smithying. To get to Whahanaki, the family set out from Whangarei in a small sailing boat, but once again they were subject to the vagaries of the weather. This time, however, it was lack of wind which caused trouble. The boat was completely becalmed off the coast and the trip occupied a week. Food ran short and it was necessary to do a littlfe fasting.

Service To Others.

During her long sojourn at Whananaki Mrs Peters derived the greatest joy from being of service to any neighbour in need. She was like a district nurse, riding a horse and rowing a boat to assist at homes where sickness was prevalent. Twenty-nine years ago, Mr and Mrs Peters decided that a life of retirement had been well earned, and they bid good-bye to the farm and the anvil and established their home in Port-

land Road, Whangarei. In the same house today, Mrs Peters is happy and comfortable.

She lost her husband in 1914. A son, Arthur, the only single member of the family of nine, however, has lived with his mother all his life. May, the fifth child, died as a three-months-old infant.

Mrs Peters’ family iS, in order of age:—George, Onehunga; Robert, Kamo Road, Whangarei; Mrs W. Nicol, Buckland Road, Epsom; Mrs E. Allen, Kamo Road, Whangarei; Mrs George Mason, Mt. Albert; Mrs Chris. Harold, Mill Road, Whangarei; Arthur, Portland Road, Whangarei; Mrs Albert Harold, Cairnfield Road, Whangarei; and Mrs Jack Bacre, Wanganui. There are 19 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. In the gathering at Mrs Peters’ home on Sunday were 43 relatives. The tea table was exquisitely arranged in pink and mauve shades and two birthday cakes, one made by her daughters and the other by' an old friend, Mrs T. Hollows, of Ewing’s Road, who has provided a cake for many of Mrs Peters’ birthdays, were decorated to tone. A number of toasts were honoured. Mrs Peters was the recipient of many congratulations and presents and was presented with a bouquet on behalf of the two youngest generations-bj r little Miss Dale Dwyer, a great-grandchild.