HUNDRED YEARS OLD TODAY

Southland Times, Issue 24773, 18 June 1942, Page 4

HUNDRED YEARS OLD TODAY

Mr Andrew Liddell

Today one of the best known men in Southland, Mr Andrew Liddell, of Winton, will be 100 years old. Some weeks ago Mr Liddell’s health was not of the best, but yesterday he was as well as ever, and intended being up early this morning to receive those who will be calling to congratulate him. <Mr Liddell has not had an easy life. Born in Paisley, Scotland, on June 18, 1842, he went to work at the age of nine and emigrated with his parents to New Zealand in 1858, the family settling in Otago. After the death of his father he went out to work and for some years drove a team of bullocks to and from the gold diggings at Gabriel’s Gully. Many are the tales Mr Liddell has to tell of this period of his life, and one of his most cherished possessions is the medal he received at the Gabriel’s Gully Jubilee. From 1864 Mr Liddell spent a few years prospecting, but without success, and in 1869 he settled at Woolston, where he started business on his own account as a saddler.

In 1873 he married Miss Ada Staples, of Christchurch, the family comprising three daughters and five sons, two of whom were twins. At the age of 12 one

of the twins died. In 1882 the family came to Winton, where Mr Liddell carried on his business of saddler, and continued in this occupation until his retirement, which he has spent mostly in Winton, but until this year going to the North Island for the winter. FORMER MAYOR

During his long residence in Winton Mr Liddell has attained a high degree of popularity, and during the period 1896-98 he served the borough as Mayor. During his term of office the Winton Athenaeum was started and the old wooden building in the Main street next to the courthouse was erected to house the books. He was a member of the early cycling club, and is one of the few surviving persons who rode the first bicycle invented, the old pennyfarthing. Mr Liddell has the unique record of being the oldest Odd Fellow in the world, the oldest P.P.G.M. in point of service in the Order, having been appointed Provincial Grand Master of the North Canterbury District in 1879, and of living to see his son, Mr A. A. Liddell, of Otautau, elected Provincial Grand Master, Southland District. In 1842 (the year of Mr Liddell’s birth) the first lodge to be founded in New Zealand was established at Nelson, and in 1866 Mr Liddell became a member. He has thus been in the order for 76 years, and he and his first lodge celebrate their centenaries in the same year. Mr Liddell is also a Freemason, but did not join this order until he settled in Winton, where he rose to the office of senior deacon. As Tyler of the lodge Mr Liddell continued to take an interest in the craft until well on in years. In 1918 Mrs Liddell died, and today only one daughter, Mrs H. Cochran, lives in Winton. The other members of the family are Miss A. R. Liddell (Wanganui), Mr A. A. Liddell (Otautau), Mr H. Liddell (Christchurch), Mr Gordon Liddell (Wanganui), Mr Andrew Liddell (Temuka) and Miss Helen Liddell (Dunedin).