PIONEER'S BIRTHDAY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22615, 31 December 1936, Page 12

PIONEER'S BIRTHDAY

MR. J. MUiR, OF MAIYGERE DUCHESS OF ARGYLE SURVIVOR Mr. John Muir, of Mangere, who will celebrate his 97th birthday on Xew Year's Day, is perhaps the oldest living link with the foundations of the settlement of Auckland. Born on Clydeside on the first day of 1840, he was brought by his parents to Auckland by the Duchess of Argyle, one of the first two immigrant ships, as an infant in 1542. It would be indeed interesting to know if any other passenger of either the Duchess of Argyle or the Jane Gif Ford still survives, or if Mr. Muir's record is unique. Mr. Muir's life has been chiefly spent in Auckland and in Taranaki, where he lived at Manaia for 26 years. His memories are of droving and dealing in horses and cattle, of the Maoris before the Waikato War broke out. and of droving stock as supplies for the British troops. He retired to live at Mangere about 27 years ago, and still retains a remarkable measure of health in spite of hia years. RESIDENT OF THE WAIKATO HAMILTON WOMAN'S MEMORIES [from OtUt OWN conKKSI'ONDKNT] I[A M ! [/TON, Wednesday Numerous congratulations from friends aild relations were received bv j Mrs. Mary Dillon, of Nixon Street, j Hamilton Fast, who celebrated her 97th ! birthday on Sunday. Born in County j Mayo, Ireland, Mrs. Dillon emigrated ■ n> the age of 18 to America and lived ! for a time in Jersey City. She then ! went back to Ireland, where she was • .r.nrried. Her husband went to Australia j to (join his brothers and Mrs. Dillon ! returned to America and travelled in ! the Southern Fagle from New York to Australia to join her husband. Mr. and Mrs. Dillon then came to Xew Zealand and took up residence at Alexandra, a settlement later to become known as Pirongia. Mr. Dillon joined the militia and was at the battle of Orakau. He later moved to Cambridge with his family. On the death of her husband in 1008, Mrs. Dillon canio to live in Hamilton and has resided here since. The celebration on Sunday was attended by two daughters, Mrs. E. S. Chainey and Miss K. Dillon, of Hamilton. Possessing a keen memory, Mrs. Dillon is able to describe incidents which occurred during her period in America, and she can also recollect clearly the stirring days of the Maori Wars.