A Hardy Old Scotchwoman

Southland Times, Issue 12009, 1 April 1892, Page 4

A Hardy Old Scotchwoman

» Mrs Agnes Smitb, a widow who claims that ahe is 109 yeare of age was (»aye tho ' Argua) a few days ago admitted into the Benevolent Asylum, Melboaroe. Her maiden name was Mann, and she was born in Glasgow, in which city, nhe avert, her father ocoapied a prominent poKiiion. IIUoIHch vv^a iv tlio fjiiol, and he k<-pi h <(mi|*lo of d rka. She avera th»t sbn lolt (<r.cnoak in 1838 (or Tasmaniu in the uiup !EldoD, the name of the captain buiog M' Alpine, and her brother and his family were fellow passengers. Those were a n the days of steamships, so thai, luiijtr fairly favourable circumstaocoo, the voyage wou/d have boen a Ions? one, but the captain had the mirfortune to ai^takc his course, and it was not until six months after the journey bad been com" menced that the vessel arrived at its destination. The party lived at Hobart, uud wbiißt there Mies Mann was married to a farmer named Smitb, and who, she alleges, was the first white farmer in the colony, ehe herself being the first white woman. [This is nonsense]. Her brother was subsequently murdered in Hobart by his own servunt. After staying in Hobart for a time, Mr and Mrs Smith came to Victoria. At this time Melbourne was not in existence. The presence of the newcomers did not meet with the approval of the blacks, so hostile beirjg their attitude that, according to Mrs Smith's assertion, they actually at one time contemplated burning her and her husband and child (a son). A long time passed ere many other white people came to the colony. Mrs Smith conceived the idea of getting a scLool, aDd commenced on a very unpretentious scale, having only one scholar, this being a half-caste girl. The state of affairs for a considerable time in the colony most have been far from comfortable, but when the police had come into the country the b acks became quieter. The aborigines had cot always lived on the most amicable terms between thtmnnlves. On one occasion Mrs Smith saw 400 of them. There had been a great figijt between two parties, one of thrto being from GeeJoDg, and the Geekmg parly provtid'tne victorß. She once had an extremely unpleasant experience, being attacked by five natives and violently seized by the throat. Twice she raieed the cry of 'Murder, 1 and this fortunately was heard by aMr Thompson, who, in consequence of the alarm, put spurs to bis horse, and rode to the rescue, the an'mal when be arrived being covered with blood. The blacks made off, and though a reward of £200 was oftarod for their ca'ptore they were never brought to justice. Mr Smith purchased 12 acte? of land. la addition to farming be sold wood, a load of which could be purchased for 2» 6d., and Mrs Smith used herself to out up two loads a day. Mr Smith died a great many years ago. His widow sold her interest in the farm, and subsequently she and her son went to the gold diggings, but if they had visions of great fortunes they were not destined to see them realised. On the contrary, they quickly loßt all the money they possessed, which amounted to hundreds of pounds. Later on, however, the son prospered. The latter married and dwelt &t Sbepparron, his mother living with him and assisting to bring up his family until his death, which occurred betwor n nine and ten years ago. After this Mrs Smith lived at Dr Singleton's, remaining tberu for three years. SabapquenOy 'she was admitted into the B nevolent Asylum.. Tbiaiosti tution she quitted in order to po and live with friends at Sheppartoo, but now, as already indicated, *hehaa again become an inmate of the Benevolent Asylam. Notwithstanding her great age she retains her faculties. She is capable of holding quite a long conversation, and is able to walk round the garden of the institution without assistance, but finds it necessary to rest now and Hgaio. As to eight, she can write a letter or thread a needle without glasses. Indeed, she asserts tbat ehe cannot use glasses now. Mrs Smith is not the only member of the family who has lived to be a centenarian, for she states tbat her father's mother reached tte age of 105.