GOLDEN WEDDING.

SETTLERS AT NGUNGURU. MR. AND MRS. G. T. SHOEBRIDGE. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WHANGAREI, Thursday. The first wliiie couple to settle at N«unguru, Mr. and Mrs. G. T. Shoe* bridge, celebrated their golden m edding anniversary this week. They received congratulations from all parts of the district. Captain Shoebridge wa6 born at West Farleigli, Kent, oil April 10, 1802, and at the ago of 11 came with his father and three sisters in the full-rigged ship Wild Duck to New Zealand. He shipped as a boy on the Robin Hood, running between Wellington and Newcastle with coal. The skipper, "Bully" Williams, ran a line of vessels upon which butter was always supplied to the crew. One Sunday, however, Captain Williams saw a sailor with a butter tub, greasing his sea boots. Thence forward there was no butter in the forecastle in any of "Bully" Williams' ships. From Wellington Captain Shoebridge came north and was engaged in picking oysters at Russell for about three years. While at Russell he met Miss Anne Jane Mills, and their marriage took place at St. Matthew's Church, Auckland, on October 15, 1885. Captain Shoebridge then engaged in fishing for some time with the Coristena, at that time champion boat of the Auckland fishing fleet. Forty-three years ago Mr. and Mrs. Shoebridge settled at Ngunguru, where they have lived ever since. Captain Shoebridge was employed by the E. Ford and Tankard Coal Company, towing vessels and barges in and out of Ngunguru Harbour for over 20 years. He was responsible for towing the first load of coal down the Ngunguru Harbr ur from Iviripaka, at that time the centre of one of the largest coal fields in New Zealand. When the ketch Champion, comnanded by Captain Stevenson, was wrecked on the treacherous Ngunguru Bar, Captain Shoebridge saved the crew. Captain Shoebridge was harbourmaster at Ngunguru for a number of years, and in 1!>15 was appointed postmaster, a position which he holds at tho present time, combining it with dairy farming and the keeping of a general store. Of a family of eight children the survivors are: Messrs. James (St. Helier's Bay), Alec (Dominion Road), Ralph (Ngunguru), and Mesdames W. Wellington (Tutukaka). W. Newman (Parua Bay Road, Whangarei), A. Akast (Oncrahi), and J. Spiers (Mercury Bay).