NAPIER NONAGENARIAN

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 18988, 13 April 1936, Page 2

NAPIER NONAGENARIAN

76 YEARS' RESIDENCE MR. WALTER SLATER For 7(1 years Mr. Waller George Slater, who celebrated his ninetieth birthday on Saturday, has been a member of the community of Napier, and lie has striven with the early pioneers to form the foundation on which Napier stands to-day. Mr. Slater, who is a prominent and wellknown resident, is in exceptionally good health, and has possession of all his faculties. Rarly in January, 18(50, the Wild Duck made her maiden voyage to New Zealand, bringing with her a band of English residents who were destined to 'become pioneers of many of the colonies established in both islands. On board were Mr. Slater (then 13 years of age), his father and mother and three sister.-. They had conic out to New Zealand at the invitation of his (Mr. Slater's) brother, who was then residing in the Napier district. A i this early stage in life. Mr. Slater, who had arrived at Napier on February 2, 1860, look on a position as a shepherd at the Okawa station. Mr. Slater's duties also included bullock-driving, an occupation which he disliked, so he returned to Napier, where he became apprenticed to a carpenter, later taking on storekeeping. Mr. Sinter built the lirst shop in Emerson street, Napier, for his mother,' the building being located where the E. and D. building stands at present. At thai time that portion of Napier was composed of rushes and pumice flats, and the sea broke over the end of the street. MAORI WAT? SERVICE Mr. Sinter was sworn in under Major Whitemore at Napier on August .1, lSli,'!, and was appointed a bugler, having- been drafted to the No. 1 Militia Company. Mr. slater took an active part in the Omarunui engagement and the relief of Mohaika during the time the famous Maori fighter, 1% fvooti, was operating in this district. The 67th anniversary of the relief of Mohaka fell las! week. Although he is not certain, Mr. Slater has good reason to believe that he is the last surviving member of the militia that was formed in 18(53. He is the possessor of a number of Maori War medals, including the Dominion long-service and imperial Jong-service. His reputation as "the sweete>t cornet player" earned him renown and .also a gold medal while he was a member of the garrison band. ''! still have the comet," he remarked reflectively, "but I cannot use it now." Vivid memories of the earthquake which rocked Ihe district in 18(52 are still retained by Mr. Slater. In his opinion, that 'quake was greater than the one in 1931, but there were not so many people in the district then as now, and consequently the damage and loss of life were not as great.