97 YEARS OLD

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 142, 19 June 1939, Page 6

97 YEARS OLD

o MR. ANDREW LIDDELL I MEMORIES GT GABRIEL’S GULLY Memories of the famous Gabriel’.' Gully gold rush arc treasured by Mr. Andrew Liddell, of Gonvillc, who celebrated his 97th. birthday yesterday. Mr. Liddell was born in Paisley, Scotland, and came to New Zealand with his parents in 1857 in the barque Palmyra. After he had been in the colony a few months, Mr. Liddell was attracted by the tales of the gold rushes and joined one. Gabriel’s Gully was only 70 miles from Dunedin but the trip took a week at the rate of 10 miles a day in a bullock dray. In Mr. Liddell’s possession is a bronze medallion which he values highly. It commemorates the golden jubilee of Gabriel's Gully, celebrated at Lawrence in 1911. For some time, Mr. Liddell was engaged driving bullock drays between Dunedin and Gabriel's Gully. Eventually he tired of this and went to Auckland, but returned to Hokitika in 1866. From there he journeyed to Nelson, and thence to Christchurch, where he started his irade as a saddler. After 10 years in Christchurch, he moved to Winton, near Invercargill, where he spent many years of his life. Throughout his lifetime, Mr. Liddell has been associated with both the Masonic and Independent Order of the Manchester Unity Lodges. He joined the Oddfellows’ Lodge in 1866. and was admitted to the Purdle Degree at a past, grands' meeting in 1875. He is the oldest Past Provincial Grand Master in New Zealand, and is a full member of lhe Masonic Lodge. Mr. Liddell was the guest of honour at a celebration on Saturday.