NINETY-EIGHTH BIRTHDAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27241, 18 November 1949, Page 6

NINETY-EIGHTH BIRTHDAY

St. Clair Woman Still Likes Gardening

For 98 years Mrs H. J. C. Cross, of Sandringham street, St. Clair, has lived in Dunedin, and, in spite of her age, she was still able on her birthday yesterday to indulge in her favourite hobby, gardening. When the Daily Times visited her yesterday she was only too glad to point out her favourite roses. Remarkably active for her age, Mrs Cross looks after the whole garden herself, and it is a full quarter-acre section. Mrs Cross has excellent eyesight, she is still able to do intricate tapestry work, and makes beautiful coloured wool bedspreads. It is also a great pleasure to her to do the darning for her three great-grandchildren. Although no official birthday party had been arranged, Mrs Cross had numerous visitors to extend best wishes to her. They included the Deputy Mayor, Cr Wright. Mrs Cross thoroughlv enjoyed the day and was so little tired by the excitement of the occasion that at the birthday tea she was still able to keep a watchful eye on her youngest great-grandchild. Her daughter, with whom she lives, told the Daily Times that Mrs' Cross

was wonderful and was looking forward to reaching 100. Mrs Cross was born in Anderson’s Bay, her parents having arrived in 1849 in the Mooltan. She remembers that when she used to visit her sister at Sawyers’ Bay they had to go by rowing boat. She recalls the gold rush days and can still see in her mind’s eye a digger making his way down the harbour to his ship and carrying a bag so heavy with gold that he had to take periodic rests and place his treasure on the Mrs Cross showed justifiable pride in that she is now the oldest Dunedin-born resident still living in the city. She was a little shy over having her photograph taken, but when it was a of posing alongside her favourite roses most of her reluctance vanished. “Good-bye and thanks for coming,” Mrs Cross said, and then added: “ See you next year.”