105 YEARS OF AGE

Taranaki Daily News, 30 April 1931, Page 9

105 YEARS OF AGE

MR. G. SMITH, OF DUNEDIN.

GOOD HEALTH AND MEMORY. Dunedin, April 28. Probably the oldest male resident of tlie Dominion, Mr. Gustav Smith, of Noflli-bitSt Vitiley, celebrated his 105th biftliddy oh ApHl 14. : In spite o'! the fact That he has exceeded the iibriiial lliiUiau span by no fewer.than 35 years, Mr; Siiiith eiijoys reiharkable health and the retention of liis fltculties to a Woiidih-ful degree. He woUld easily paS§ fbr it mail in Ilia eilrly seventies aiid lib is still ablb to i'bad a iiewspaper without the aid Of glasses. Born at Spitzbfifgbii on April 14, 1826, Mr. Smith at aii eilrly age detcriiiiiibd upoii a seafaring career. He 16ft home at the age of 14 ybars and he lilts riot since seen the land of liis birth. For hciirly 50 yeitfs lie followed tlie Occiipatibn bf ship’s cbok arid Ste Ward, visiting nialiy pili'ts Of the world iii i'cspoiise to tlie urging Of hjs roving spirit, .aiid eiicouiiteriiig iiiaiiy iiiteresting experiences, still preserved by tin extellbiit inciriory. iie was involved in inore than oiie collision aiid lie coiifeSses that lie deserted from each of the ohlj' two Nova Sbotiiih 811ip§ oh which he was employed. . , it was in 1888 that Mr. Sihitli iiiade liis first acqtutiiiiaiicb with New Zealand, aiiviiig at eliijlgtoh ftoiii Calcutta early ih that year. Stiliib inOiitlis later he eaine South arid after working ibr a short time iii Central Otago lie tOok.iip liis residence in Portli-east Vitiley, where lie engaged in poultry farining, an bebupatioh 'wlrieli hb still ptitsues iii it small wav. , Mr. Smith rises at 4 a,in. and gobs to bed regularly at 8 p.m. With the exebption bf aii attack of iiiflueriza within the last year or so, lie has never been sick in his life. He is a gfeat believer in drinking plenty bf bold water. He was married shortly aftbr he arrived in Dunedin, but Mi’S. Siiiith died oil May 27, 1(128, the day before her 80th birthday. There are no children, but apparently Mr. Sihith is quite happy looking after himself and doing his own cooking and washing.