OCTOGENARIAN SETTLER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20174, 7 February 1929, Page 10

OCTOGENARIAN SETTLER.

MR. J. GILES, OF HUNTLY.

64 YEARS IN DOMINION.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

HUNTLY, Wednesday. Mr. John Giles, of Hakanoa Street, Huntly, has celebrated his 88th birthday. He was born in London in 1841, and started work in a brickfield at the age of 10 years, where he worked for just on 24 years. He married in 1864, and 64 years ago, on February 8, 1865, he left the East India Docks in tho ship Lancashire Witch, bound for New Zealand, and landed in Auckland June 3, 1865, the day King George was born. Whore the Waverley Hotel stands to-day was then the waterfront, and grouped in the vicinity were a fruit mart, fish mart and timber yards.

Shortly after his arrival in Auckland Mr. Giles secured work in Whangarci for tho New Zealand Government at a wage of 4s per day, and from there on followed various occupations, having engaged in Kumdißcing, navvying, bush cutting and farming! From 1889 to 1894 ho worked in the Kamo coalmines, going from there to Hukcrunui, where he engaged in farming till 1921. It was here, in 1908. that Mr. Giles lost his wife. In 1921 Mr. Giles settled in Huntly, and at the age of 81 joined the Huntly Bowling Club, winnine the gold medal in club fours at tho ripl ago of 84. Two years ago lie retired from bowls, but every day may be seen working industriously in his garden. On tho occasion of his birthday, Mr. Giles was the recipient of many congratulations.