CENTENARIAN HONOURED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19383, 19 July 1926, Page 10

CENTENARIAN HONOURED.

101ST BIRTHDAY REACHED. •MEMORIES OF THE PAST. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] NEW PLYMOUTH. Saturday.' A well-known resident of. New Plymouth, Mr. Dennis Ryan, celebrated his 101st birthday to-day. He is still enjoying excellent health and takes a keen interest in local affairs. During the course of a social arranged in his honour this afternoon, Mr. Ryan was presented with a birthday cake inscribed with the dates, 1825-1926. In the evening relatives and friends assembled in Mr. Ryan's house to wish him many years of happiness. Mr. Ryan was born near Managh, County Tipperary, Ireland. A roving disposition and the possibilities of life abroad led him to embark, when a young man, for Adelaide. Upon his arrival in Australia he succumbed to the lure of tho Ballarat and Bendigo gold divings, A spell of five years as a miner followed. Mr. Ryan then enlisted in the mounted police. News of the gold find at Gabriel's Gully next attracted Mr. Ryan. Afterwards he went to Wellington, where ho joined the police force and was subsequently in charge of the Porirua district. This was at the time of the exploits of the notorious bushrangers, Burgess, Levy and Sullivan. While at Porirua Mr. Ryan escorted the then Governor-General, Sir John Fergusson, on a tour of inspection of the beaches where fighting had occurred between Maoris and pakehas. After 10 years spent at Porirua Mr. Ryan commenced dairy farming at Tawa Flat, near Wellington. He was one of the oldest settlers in that district and held the office of iustice of the peace. He farmed successfully for some 30 years before ceasing active wdrk.