92-Year-Old Mr. G. P. Holland May Roll Up First Bowl At St. John’s

Wanganui Chronicle, 7 October 1950, Page 4

92-Year-Old Mr. G. P. Holland May Roll Up First Bowl At St. John’s

Just one day short of hfs 92nd birthday, Mr. G. P. Holland, of Halswell Street, hopes to roll up the first ball at the opening of the St. John’s Bowling Club today. A resident of Wanganui for the last 54 years, Mr. Holland was born in London and emigrated to New Zealand as a youth of 16 years. The voyage in the sailing ship was fraught with many adventures as the ship was unseaworthy and leaked so badly that passengers were often called to assist at the pumps. Duri ig the height of a gale the passengers were battened down for two successive days as the ship became practically engulfed in heavy seas. Later the ship was swept with typhoid fever and 26 deaths Were recorded among tne 350 passengers. After being many days overdue, and practically given up for lost, the vessel reached Napier. For many years Mr. Holland was a valued member of the Napier Volunteer Fire Brigade and later of the East Town Railway Fire Brigade, being captain of the last named body. Until his retirement Mr. Holland was employed by the New Zealand Railways at the East Town Workshops. He is one of the oldest members of the Druids' Lodge in New Zealand, having a membership record of 69 years.