MOUNT ALBERT PIONEER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20985, 23 September 1931, Page 10

MOUNT ALBERT PIONEER

' MRS. J. TONSON GARLICK, SAME HOME FOR 66 YEARS. EXPERIENCES IN EARLY DAYS. The earliest resident of Mount Albert now living, Mrs. J. Tonson Garlick, of "Fcrndale," will celebrate hdr 84th birthday to-day at the homo in which she has lived continuously for the past 66 years. Mrs. Garlick has seen the transformation of the rough scoria paddocks that comprised "Albert Park," as it was then called, into the flourishing suburb oi today. A row of Norfolk pines, which she planted as a young bride, has now grown into an avenue which is one of the most prominent landmarks of the district. Mrs. Garlick was born in Birmingham and came to New Zealand with her father, the late Mr. John Houghton, on the ship Kinnaird, as a girl of 14. After a voyage lasting exactly four months, the family arrived at Auckland on March 9, 1862. Three of her brothers, Mr. C. V. Houghton, of Parncll, Mr. F. H. Houghton, of Stanley Bay, and Mr. R. W. Houghton, of Nelson, and one sister, Mrs. Charles Rhodes, of Remuera, are still alive. Shortly after her arrival in New Zealand, the young girl went with a brother, who was then only 16, to be his housekeeper. He intended to set up as a farmer with the Albertl-ind settlers at Port Albert, and the two young people set out to walk from Whangarei to Port Albeit. The journey took them two and a-half days. Later, Mrs. Garlick returned to Auckland and lived with the rest of her family in the city. In those days the little colony was continually troubled with fears of Maori disturbances, and Mrs. Garlick remembers being told of hiding places in the scrub of Newton, where families were to take refuge iri case of necessity. On December 20, 1865, her marriage took place to the late Mr. J. Tonson Gailick, one of the founders of the furnishing house that bore his name, and the young couple went to Mrs. Garlick's present home. Mount Albert was then a very rural district, and the usual means of communication was by horseback over the rough track that wound its way through the scoria covered country. The route was much the same as to-day, but the absence of gradings and cuttings made the hills much steeper than they are now. Mrs. Garlick has always interested herself in the affairs of the district. She has been a prominent worker for the Mount Albert Bowling Club since its formation and has always been closely associated with the Mount Albert Methodist Church, which was built a year or two after her arrival at "Ferndale." For 50 years she was a teacher in the Sunday School. She retains not only all her faculties, but also | a youthful, enthusiastic spirit, and busies herself in all kinds of kindly activities. The death of her husband occurred in ] £93 while he was on a visit to England and was staying at the home of the Rev. C. H. Spurgeon. The children, who are all living, are:—Mr. J. H. Garlick and Mr. A. T. Garlick, of Mount Albert, Mr. G. C. Garlick, of Papakura, Mrs. C. H. Priestley, of Cambridge, and Mrs. G. E. Robinson, of Melbourne.