OVER THE CENTURY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16705, 24 July 1928, Page 12

OVER THE CENTURY

EX-POLICEMAN AND FARMER Mr. Denis Ryan, of Huiroa, New Plymouth, is 103 years old. He is in good iiea Ith, but says he does not feel as fit for travel as he was two years ago. Mr. Ryan was born near Managh, County Tipperary, Ireland, in 1825. He spent four or five years on the gold diggings of Ballaral and Bendigo, and subsequently he joined the mounted police force which, escorted gold from the diggings to Melbourne. Word of the rinding of gold at Gabriel's Gully attracted him from Australia, but, while there was plenty of gold, ho was not one of the lucky ones. Going'to Dunedin, he joined Sir John Branigan's police force, the first in the colony. This force escorted gold from the diggings without any trouble from robbers. Later, he joined the police force in Wellington, being placed in charge of the Porirua district. The Governor, Sir John Fergusson, father of the present GovernorGeneral, with his party was escorted by Mr Ryan on an inspection of the various beaches around the coast. Mr. Ryan remained at Porirua for some years, and then resigned from the force to take up dairying at Tawa Flat, near Wellington. Land in those days could be purchased tor 5s an acre, and butter realised 4d per lb. He farmed successfully for 30 years, and then ceased active work