NINETY-FIVE YEARS OLD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22262, 9 November 1935, Page 14

NINETY-FIVE YEARS OLD

RESIDENT OF NORTHCOTE The, 95th birthday of Mr. James Hurley, who has Hived at Northcote since his arrival at Auckland 55 years ago, occurs to-day. Born at Watchet, England, he was married in 1871 to Miss Elizabeth Gould at Somerset. They came to Auckland in 1880 by the Shaw, Savill clipper Northumberland, commanded by Captain Richard Todd, the passage occupying 14 weeks from Gravesend. They were met by the late Air. Thomas Hilditch, a brother-in-law of Mr. Hurley, and rowed direct from the vessel to the Sulphur Works Wharf, at the eastern beach at Northcote, at that, period a very sparsely-settled district. They occupied the oniy house on the beacii, alongside the brick sulphur' refinery, until a larger dwelling was erected in the vicinity, and in 1914 they moved to Queen Street. Mr. Hurley has been closely identified with the development of Northcote, which he has seeu grow into a populous suburb. The ferry service when lie first know it was of a primitive character. The vessels wero the round-stern paddle steamers City of Cork and Dovonport, and they made four trips during the day and one in the evening, the last ono leaving the city at seven o'clock. The single fare was one shilling. Mrs. Hurley died in 1927 at the age of 83 years. There are four sons and three daughters, whilo there are also 16 grandchildren and nine great-grand-'children.