101 YEARS OF AGE

Taranaki Daily News, 19 April 1933, Page 9

101 YEARS OF AGE

RESIDENT OF AUCKLAND. LONG LIFE IN DOMINION. , . One of the oldest persons In New Mrs. Henry Mahon Jervis, of Auckland, will. celebrate her 101st birthday to-day. Mrs. Jervis was able to take active part in a large family gathering to mark her centenary 12 months ago, but she has been in ■a? very poor state of health, for some weeks past and accordingly no similar celebrations have been planned this year. Mrs. Jervis, whose maiden name was Ellen Dodds, was born in Sydney in 1832. It is curious to recall that she was a delicate girl, and that it was on account of her health that she came to New Zealand at, the age of 17. It was thought that the change might do her health good, and it speaks well for New Zealand that she never had an illness afterwards until quite recently the frailties' of extreme old age have made themselves apparent. When Mrs. Jervis landed at Auckland 84 years ago she was rowed ashore from the cutter in which she and her parents had come from Sydney and the haka of welcome which a band of Maoris gave on the beach at the foot of Shortland Street made an indelible impression on her. In 1855 Miss Dodds was married to Mr. H. M. Jervis, one of the pioneers who reached Auckland shortly after it was founded by Governor HobsOn; They lived at first in Emily Place, and later moved to the .North Shore, where they were among .the first to settle. Mr, Jervis was associated for a long time with L. D. Nathan and Company, Limited, and later became an agent for shipping firms and had much to do with the establishment of trade between Auckland and the Fiji Islands. Mrs. Jervis has never left New Zealand since her arrival so long ago and with the exception of occasional trips to Wellington and Dargaville she has spent all her time in Auckland. She has watched its marvellous development almost from the commencement, and in recent years kept in touch with its growth by means of motor trips, of which she was very fond. Of Mrs. Jervis’ family of ten children three daughters, Mrs. L. Rees, Mrs. W. Goldsworthy and Mrs. P. R. Fraser, and two sons, Mr. F. M. Jervis and Mr. N. M. Jervis, are living. She has about 20 grandchildren and 30 greatgrandchildren.