“THE AULD HOUSE.”

Otago Witness, Issue 3768, 1 June 1926, Page 75

“THE AULD HOUSE.”

A HOME FOR HALF A CENTURY. PIONEER OWNER’S DEATH (See Illustrations in This Issue.) Tn a tiny, old-fashioned garden in Frederick street stands a little cosy house. It is time-worn and weatder-beaten v.tih the passing of the years, yet for m re than half a century it has been the hoc.e of one of Dunedin’s most respected families. Today the little old home is dwarfed by the larger and more modern houses that dominate its age-mellowed walls, but 50 years ago it was one of the prettiest houses in a sparsely populated area, 'today it holds that charm which comes with maturity—that, old-world solidity that no 'modern building, however beautiful, can possess. Built many vears be r ore it was bought by the family whose home it, has be<n for so long, the house is considered to be the oldest n the enighbourhood. and one of the few remaining pioneer houses of Dunedin. Under its roof have been celebrated the silver, golden, diamond. , and jubilee weddings of a happy couple-* Mr and Mrs Richard Las*—both of whom have now passed away. The death on the 21st ult. of Mrs East at the remarkable age of 99 years closes the last record of the Darby and Joan romance that oame to an end by the passing away cf her husband on Mav 22, 1916 Richard East was a solidier in the British contingent that wae stationed in New Zealand a little before the Maori War. On finding that many years of his life were likely to he spent in the new colony he sen! for his sweelheart, a Glas gow girl, to whom he was married in 1857 at Melbourne. Mr and Mrs East returned to Scotland for a time, but the Maori War of 1860 resulted in their arrival in Auckland. There thev remained with a young family during the four years of strife, and in 1872, after Mr East was discharged from the army following his return to the Old Country, they set out once more for Now Zealand in the good ship Wellington.

The late Mary Ann East and her soldierhusband came ashore from the Wellington at Pott Chalmers, and made theiT way to Dunedin. The home in Frederick street was purchased, and there the family has remained until the present day. Richard Fast died at the age of 95, and was no less liked and respected than was the aged pioneer wife and mother who has now gone on to join her lifelong partner. Tho late Mrs Margaret Ann Jackson, known as one of Dunedin’s most prominent, social workers, and the late Mrs J. Bourk of Kaikorai, wore daughters of Mrs East, while one son, Dr Gabriel F/wt, was, until recently, in practice at Pntaruru. The remaining son. Laurence East, now lives in the old Frederick street home.

Mrs East, was distin'mished by her loving, kindlv nature and her great fondness for children. The passing of one of Dunedin’s oldest residents will be widely regretted by many.