TWO NONAGENARIANS

Taranaki Daily News, 11 August 1932, Page 14

TWO NONAGENARIANS

IDENTICAL BIRTHDAYS REACHED AUCKLAND TOGETHER. NINETY-TWO YEARS OF AGE. Born in England on the same day in 1840 and arriving in Auckland on the ship Ironsides on the same day in 1864, Mr. James Joseph Cooper, of Onehunga, and Mr. Edwin Auger, of Ponsonby, celebrated their 92nd birthdays yesterday. Both are in good health and have excellent memories of the days when Auckland was very young, says the Herald. Mr. Cooper was born at Cromer, Norfolk, and went to sea at the age. of 13. He sailed the seven seas, arriving in Auckland in 1864. Hearing that a war was < being waged inland against the Maoris he decided'to take “French leave” and participate in the hostilities. He swam ashore from the ship, landing by night at Mechanics’ Bay. After walking to Drury Mr. Cooper heard that sailors were required to man the Waikato River boats. He returned to, Auckland and was engaged by Captain Fairchild, then in command of the Government steamer Gundagai. Shortly afterwards a letter from his mother in England informed him that his brother was in Dunedin, whereupon he obtained his discharge by arranging for a substitute, and departed for Dunedin. SOUTHERN GOLD RUSHES. On arrival in Dunedin Mr. Cooper found the whole populace in a state of feverish excitement owing to the reports of rich finds of gold in the interior. After a memorable journey by bullock dray Mr. Cooper and his brother arrived at one of the “rush” areas. Their quest for gold was pursued at the Molyneux, Arrow and Shotover Rivers. He recalls that two miners on the Arrow collected 1121 b weight of gold in a few weeks, and that during one afternoon, from a beach on. the Shotover, two Maoris obtained 251 b weight with their bare hands. “In my opinion, the bed of the Shotover is almost paved with gold,” said Mr. Cooper yesterday. “There is very little in the Kawarau, but in the ranges above the source of the Shotover there is more gold in a given area than in any other spot on earth.” Joining in the “rush” to Westland in 1867, Mr. Cooper was one of the first to work the alluvial deposits at Kanieri. Returning to Dunedin,' he had charge of the lighter Agnes, which carried timber from Port Chalmers to Dunedin. FARM ON ELLERSLIE RACECOURSE. Mr. Cooper came back to Auckland in 1873 and was married. He took up land in the Pakuranga district and farmed it for 30 years. “Times were hard in those days,” said Mr. Cooper/ “but w© soon recovered 'because the country was not saddled with enormous loans.” Fifty-six years ago Mr. Cooper was manager for a time for the late Mr. Hobert Graham, who farmed the present site of Ellerslie racecourse. On the death of his wife 30 years ago Mr. Cooper settled at Unehunga, living With his daughter, Mrs. G. Vazey. He has six children, 35 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. His physical and mental powers are but slightly impaired and his memory is most retentive. Mt. Cooper is fond of walking, and is a doughty opponent at a game of cribbage or five hundred. VETERAN’S ONLY ILLNESS. Equally active in spite of his great age is Mr. Auger, who recalled yesterday that 70 years ago, when he contemplated becoming a Forester, the doctor was a little doubtful about his heart. “I have had nothing wrong with me since 1855, when I had smallpox, and I have never drawn sick pay from the lodge,” said Mr. Auger. “I was born in the classic village of Twickenham,” explained Mr. Auger, who started life in England as a bootmaker, but later became a letter-carrier. Mr, Auger still possesses a Bible and a book called “Infidelity: Its Cause and Cure,” which were autographed and presented to him by brother officers ou his departure for New Zealand in April, 1864. Mr. Auger married young and came to New Zealand because his wife’s mother was resident here. Although he has never returned to England, Mr. Auger cherishes many happy memories of his native land. “1 saw Her Majesty Queen Victoria and her beloved consort visit Twickenham in 1855,” ho said proudly. “They came in an ordinary carriage with two outriders. I also remember the arrival of Princess Alexandra in London just prior to her marriage to the Prince of Wales.” SEVENTY YEARS A FORESTER. Air. Cooper attended the 1851 exhibition, held in the Crystal Palace, then in Hyde Park. He was also present at the great exhibition in 1862, when the bells now installed in St. Matthew’s Church, Auckland, were on show. They were accepted on behalf of the church by Bishop Selwyn. Seventy years as a Forester were completed by Mr. Auger last month. He is also prominently identified with the Masonic craft, and is still secretary and chaplain of one lodge, positions he has held for over a quarter of a century. Sir.

Auger is a regular attendant at lodge meetings. For 58 years Mr. Auger conducted a bootmaking business at the top of Parnell Rise. He was for a, time a member of the Parnell Borough Council and was prominently identified with the Parnell Dramatic Club. Mr. Auger is modesty personified and he was not to be drawn regarding his prowess as“ a Shakespearean player. Asked what parts he played Mr. Auger re-plied, with a glint of humour in his eye, “Marshal Stride.’ After a pause he explained, “You know —enter the ghost with martial stride.” Mr. Auger neither -smokes nor drinks. He confesses that at the age of 13 he did try to smoke. “I had a farthing clay pipe and a farthingsworth of birdseye,” he said. “The pavement seemed to go round after I had had a few puffs and I never tried smoking since.” Mrs. Auger died in 1921, within a few weeks of the anniversary of her diamond wedding. Mr. Auger has since resided with his son, Mr. Fred Auger, at Ponsonby Terrace. There are seven surviving sons, all Auckland residents.