LONGEVITY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18754, 6 January 1923, Page 12

LONGEVITY

EARLY AUCKLAND SETTLERS. (From Ocr Own Correspondent.) AUCKLAND. January 5. The surprising longevity of early Auckland settlers is made apparent once again in the perusal of the ages of the old folk who died during (he past year. During 12 months the deaths of 587 persons of 70 years and over have been recorded. The great majority of these were early colonists, and the fact that they died full of years after a lifetime of hard work and strenuous pioneering speaks well for the old-time custom of simple living and plenty of work and sleep Most of them were born m far-off lands with much more rigorous conditions of climate than obtain in sunny New Zealand; but coming to a now country in early boyhood, or vigorous young manhood, as most of the old pioneers did, they found plenty of work to liarden them up and bring out t'lic strong powers of endurance which have stood so many of them in good stead in the passing of over half a century, ino same applies to the women; indeed; an interest hi ' point revealed in any search ot longevity records is that a great many ot New Zea'and’s pioneer wives and mothers have outlived-its fathers In almost any list of obituary notices of old folk it v.ill bo found that the women, usually widows, outnumber men. During the past month, for instance, of seven aged people who died at upwards of P 0 years no fewer than six were wnmen. The oldest, of them all was Mrs Aim Robertson, aged 98 a pioneer of thi Rotoii.a district. Mrs Mary Armstrong, who died on November o at the age of 95. was the widow of a member of the Ifitli Royal Irish Regiment. Of a total of 142 old folk who have passed away during the past throe months 52 were women and 60 men. The winter months—June, July, and August --invariably take a heavy toll from the ranks of the old pioneers. The deaths of over 103 persons over 75 years of age have been recorded last winter. The greatest age attained among those whoso deaths were recorded last year was that of Mrs Harriet fosse v, of Drury, who died in August at the ago of 101. Even this great age was eclipsed in the previous year, for m 1921 t.hore wore three deaths in Now Zealand or centenarians. A man nt Wellington, who reached the great nge of 105, and two women at Dunedin who died at the respec live ages of 106 and 104.