DEATH IN 104TH YEAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20922, 11 July 1931, Page 8

DEATH IN 104 TH YEAR.

MRS. M. REECE, OF OPOTIKI, EARLY DAYS IN COLONY, ' •' ; , > vi, ' SIXTY-TWO DESCENDANTS. ——r— I [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN COURESPON*D Kst , ' OPOTIKI. Fridfiy; The death occurred in her 104 th y ea j to-day of Mrs. Martha Reece, of Opotiki who jiassed away at the. residence of her I daughter, Mrs. 11. J. Webb, with whom she had lived for the past 20 yeare. • Mrs. Kcece had reached the great, a»s of ,103 years 8 months, having born on November 3, 1827, in Shropshire She was married in Worcestershire ia 1857,, and with her husband came to New Zealand in the ship Nimrod in 18$. •After living for two. years in Auckla&j Mr. and Mrs. Reece came to Opotiki, where Mr. Reece died more than 3) yearis ago C

Many stirring stories of life in Opotiij in f the early days were told by Reece. The Maoris then were not ,- s peaceful as they arc now and often tfis alarm was sounded which brought all the Europeans hurrying to safety behind the moat in f 'ont of St. Stepheq'j Anglican Church.

Mrs. Reece was also able to tell storita of. her young days in England, and s| l9 well remembered the accession of Qu e u a Victoria. This event, she said, was im, pressed upon her mind by the fact of her attending a tea party in honour of fie occasion One of her exciting experiences during her early days in New Zealand was a visit to the notorious chief <f« Eooti, with whom she well remembered tremblingly shaking hands. A remaikable experience befel her over 20 yea rt ago, when she suddenly regained:la?' sight after being blind for some years. A visit which 6he received recently from the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, and ithe Lajdy Bledisloe caused her much d* "'light. On the occasion of her 100 th birth' day, in 1927, she received over 80 tele* grams from; all parts of New Zealand.. Her home was visited also by the Mayoij of Opotiki, the chairman of the Opotiki County Council, and the chairman of i,he Power Board, who paid their respects to the centenarian. A birthday cake an! a large number of gifts were presented to her. A letter was received from the King and Queen expressing interest in the great age reached by Mrs. Reece.

One son, Mr. W. Reece, who is 68 years old, was born on the same day of the year as His mother. A grand-daughter also was born on. November 3, so that for a period three birthdays were celebrated in the family on the same day. Mrs. Reece's descendants number 62,There are two sons, Messrs. Edwin William Reece, of Opotiki; three daugfo ters, Mesdames R. Smith (Onehur.ga), H.J. Webb and J. M. Butler (Opotild); 33 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, and one great great-grandchild. The funeral will take place to-morrow at the Opotiki Cemetery. A memorial service will be held in St. Slephsns Church on Sunday morning.