101, NOT OUT!

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12423, 17 April 1926, Page 5

101, NOT OUT!

INTERESTING LIFE STORY OF MRS FRANCES WEBB / DAYS OF LONG AGO j LADY WHO HAS LIVED UNDER FIVE BRITISH MONARCHS

; MRS FRANCES WEBB. ” » , Twelve white horses, ridden by twelvd white-robed maidens all garlanded with flowers, moving along the main street of a little Cornish town to celebrate *the coronation of Queen Victoria—this is one of the early recollections of Mrs Frsences Webb, of Feilding, who has just entered her 102nd year. She herself was a little girl twelve yeaars old at the time. Later she remembers the sensation when the young Queen was recognised walking through the streets of wearing a pink P R,NT dress!

There are memories of an excursion to a “palace” fifty miles inland, which was used as a refuge" by a royal family. She can describe the masonry, and how the granite blocks- were laid. On her far-off wedding day, Darley Chapel, Linkinhorne, near Liskeard, was the place. Mrs. Webb wore a voluminous dress—all handmade at the cost of 2s. It was of blue and orange shot silk, and pieces, of it survived till fairly lately in a patphwork quilt, but many moves and three fifes have destroyed some precious possessions. After a preliminary visit to Australia Mr IVehb decided to settle there, and went back to England for his wife and child. December, 1857, was the date of their sailing, and a fortnight after Mrs Webb was making her Christmas pudding on board the Tornado. It was cooked in the ship’s galley, and turned out a great success. Once smallpox broke out on board, and 'much of the bedding and belongings of the passengers were thrown o\ erboard. But so 7 speckiessly clean was Mrs Webb’s cabin that the doctor passed everything she had. There were lots of fun an hoard, too, dancing and singing, while church every Sunday was an important event. THE VICTORIAN GOLD RUSH Gold digging was in full swing the ship arrived in Australia in- April ’SB, 30th-31st. Special gold-stamping machinery Mr Webb had brought out was extremely useful. Christmas Creek, Bendigo, and Ballarat are well known to the old lady named. In -Victoria it was terribly hot, and when a tiny daughter fell ill it-was difficult to find a cool spot, *But pioneers were very resourceful, and in the huge open fireplace of an empty room was slung the little cot. Not long after the small patient was well enough to be led astray by a certain Elizabeth Jane, of the same age, and both got lost in the bush for a time. An ingenious underground playroom, deep dog out of solid clay, and roofed with eucalyptus and wattle boughs, soon kept the children happy and safe. Incidentally, it is to the aftercare of this same daughter, now Mrs G. F. Foote, of Feilding, that Mrs Webb owes most of the health and happiness she now possesses. IN NEW ZEALAND Somewhere in the ’6o ! s the Webbs came to Dunedin, and from thence to Hokitika, where bush-felling was go. ing on to make the little township. Thlere again they found themselves among gold-diggings. Mrs Webb remembers the visit of “Governor Grey,” Sir George being the first of the Queen’s representatives to go to the West Coast, where he got a great welcome from the diggers. It was curious to look down from the balcony of the hotel on a sea of men’s faces—“so close you could have walked on their heads.”

The late Mr R. J. Seddon \the Webbs knew well as a young man. Long after, when he became Famous, he suddeitfy caught sight of Mrs Webb at a meeting in Taranaki and broke off his political speech to greet his old friend. On her 101st birthday lately the Mayor and leading people of Feilding came to congratulate Mrs Webb. VISIT FROM GOVERNORGENERAL The last great event was a visit from ‘the Governor-General. It was entirely unexpected and the old lady had just taken herself out for a stroll round the garden, when she was brought back to find His Exceljener waiting Her on the wide . verandah. “He is a nice gentleman, isn t he? she says. “He sat here, and .silked to me, and held my hand—this handall the time, and he asked me about my relations, and if I remembered his father? He says is coming again, in about six months Let me see,” reflectively, “that ll be November, won’t it?” , • Mia Webb might easily pass for being in the 80's. Her blue eyes are bright, her voice strong, her grasp firm; her only trouble is deafness, one wears a. snowy shawj over her WacK dress, and- surmounting a knot oi thick silver hair is a smart lace cap with a lavender how. * . On her 98th birthday she walked into Feilding and back—four -miles all told. She'enjoys a three-course dinner every day, and believes m snacks in between, too. ' On'the table close o is a golden box. “From the Dunedin Exhibition,” she explains, “and it is full of chocolates.” She doesn’t think much of doctors and mredichies, and has been heard to advise people to keep away from them. ‘'Patience is a good thing, isn_t it. You ought always to have patience. It’s a great blessing, patience 1” She is very energetic all the same, and frequently makes her own bed. UNDER FIVE SOVEREIGNS Born in Cornwall at Silverwell, near Truro, in March, 1525, Mrs Webb (whose maiden name was ..Harris), has lived under five sovereigns—'George IVy William IV., Victoria, Edward VII., and George V. Her only complaint is that, the world is growing colder, and it is difficult to keep warm. This makes her think of the children Bhe played with in Cornwall over 90 years ago. At. night they used to run round the hayricks and the hurdy-gurdy, till they were warm- “Thou they put on their nighties’ ’ and popped into bed! And sometimes at night she thinks she hears them still. But all the same she is brisk and cheerful,- and very happy at “Ngamotu” in the devoted care of her daughter t And there are few things she likes better than /to talk of old times. I.A.E.