CENTENARIAN PASSES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 308, 30 December 1933, Page 8

CENTENARIAN PASSES

MRS J. GARRARD’S DEATH J RECENTLY PASSED 99TH. YEAR 1 Born in Devonshire, England, in > 1834, at which time colonisation in - New Zealand had not yet been defin--1 itely started, Airs Clara Sabina Gar--3 rard, of Bastia Hill, Wanganui, passed > peacefully away yesterday. It was • not long ago, on December 13, that she attained her 99th. birthday, and every i hope was held that she would live to see 100 candles on her birthday cake next year. But it was not to be, and, “full of years” the line old ladv ‘ passed on to join the pioneers of the Dominion after their life’s work in ' building up a new country. The late Airs Garrard caine to New’ Zealand 74 years ago as a bride to the late Air Joseph Garrard, who predeceased her some 46 years ago. Together they sailed to New Zealand in the year 1859 on board the sailing ship “Airedale,” on which Air Garrard occupied the position of chief officer. The voyage, as was usual in those far-off days, occupied six long months, and when the stout little vessel arrived in Nelson there were many on board her who expected to find the •country completely uncivilised. They forgot, however, that the colony was by then already nearly 20 years old and that many settlers had preceded them. For 54 years Airs Garrard remained m the South Island, and there were many- incidents of early Nelson, the colonisation of which always occupies a separate chapter in any New Zealand history book, which the old lady could recall to interest her listeners. She could remember quite vividly the Alaori wars and the subsequent arrivals of refugees from Taranaki to Nelson. For the past 11 years Airs Garrard lived with her daughter. Airs J. R. Sutherland, of Wanganui, keeping in comparatively good health during that period. She always took a great interest in the affairs of Wanganui and the outside world, and, like the majority of older people, was always busily occupied until her great ago exerted its natural demands upon her. IThitting was one of her favourite hobbies of later years, while she was fond of making coathangers. She leaves three children (Air J. L. Garrard, of Wellington; Airs J R. Wanganui; and Airs W. J. Johns, of Waitara). A private funeral wi 11 he held to-day.