APPROACHING CENTURY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26969, 3 January 1949, Page 4

APPROACHING CENTURY

PENINSULA 1 FARMER MR. D. YOUNG’S 99th BIRTHDAY On Friday, the last day of Otago’s centennial year, one of her residents began his 100th year. Mr David Young, of 77 Stafford street, sat up in bed all day and received over 25 guests, who assisted him in celebrating his ninety-ninth birthday. To the almost unvarying opening question asked by each visitor —“How do you feel? ” —Mr Young replied in a strong Scots accent. “ Braw, verra braw.” And, although lying back among his pillows, Mr Young did appear healthy and fit as he greeted each new guest. Emigrating to Otago from Glasgow with his parents in the ship Storm Cloud in 1861, Mr Young started his career in his adopted land as a butcher’s boy in Dunedin. Later he took up farming on the Otago Peninsula, and remained in this occupation until his retirement. He farmed land at Hooper’s Inlet, Sandymount and finally Broad Bay. In 1879 Mr Young married Miss Mary Jane Kerr at Portobello. Mrs Young, who will be 90 years old in February, was much admired for her proficiency in butter-making when the family was still actively farming. Mr and Mrs Young have six children, 25 grandchildren and 27 greatgrandchildren.