NINETY-NINTH BIRTHDAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19730, 1 September 1927, Page 10

NINETY-NINTH BIRTHDAY.

EARLY COLONIST'S RECORD.

The ninety-ninth birthday of Mrs. W. Orm>ston was celebrated last Tuesday, when there was a large gathering of relatives at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. J. M. West, Church Street, Onehunga. In spite of her great age Mrs. Ormiston enjoys excellent health. Her mental faculties are extraordinarily clear and vigorous and she can recall many incidents of long ago. She spends a good deal of time each day in reading the, papers and continues to take, a lively interest in all current events. As a correspondent she is untiring, and her handwriting is still fiimiliar to a large family, consisting of nine sons and daughters, 26 grandchildren, and 12 great-grand-children. The story of Mrs. Ormiston's early life in Auckland is one -of hard work and devotion to the needs of her family. She was born at Launceston, Cornwall, and ■ came to Auckland in 1861 it» the ship Ida Zeigler. Her husband, the late Mr. William Ormiston, was engaged in farming at Mangapai, near Whangar'ei, and represented the district on the early Provincial Councils. His death, over 40 years * ago, was deeply regretted by both pakeha and Maori. Left with a family of nine, the youngest about three years old, Mrs. Ormiston carried on bravely with the assistance of her sons. After living at Mangapai for about 14 years the property was sold and Mrs. Ormiston came to Auckland.