A CENTENARIAN HONOURED

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19451, 28 March 1933, Page 9

A CENTENARIAN HONOURED

ONE OF GARIBALDI’S LEGION. MESSAGE FROM MUSSOLINI. Bv Telegraph—Press Associatiou AUCKLAND, March 27. A congratulatory message from Signor Mussolini to Captain W. J. Newb.v, of Grey Lynn, whose hundredth birthday was celebrated on Sunday, was read at a reception given to Captain Newby by the Auckland Working Men’s Club. • + . .. The Captain is believed to be the last survivor of Guiseppe Garibaldi’s English Legion of 1000 picked men, which was sent by the British Government to Italy in 1858. The message, which was sent through Cavaliere G. Formichella. Italian Consul at Wellington, was as follows:—“Kindly convey to Captain Newby my hearty wishes and sincere appreciation of his services under Garibaldi.” Some three months ago Mr N. A. Cling, president of the Working Men’s Club, wrote to Signor Mussolini and explained the circumstances of Capta n Newby’s service in Italy. Mr Cling also mentioned that a reception to the Captain to celebrate his hundredth birthday was intended, and proof that Signor Mussolini remembered came in the form of the message. The telegram was read to Captain Newby, and he was delighted to receive such a message of appreciation. Mr Cling presented Captain Newby with an engraved pewter pot, and the recipient later celebrated the occasion by drinking a pint of ale with Club members.