A GOLDEN WEDDING.

Clutha Leader, Volume I, Issue 31, 11 February 1875, Page 6

A GOLDEN WEDDING.

. • A icoi-respondent -writes -to. las irrAn 'event noticommon and' of AieryLiinteEesJ: 1 -: iig -ftature. took place two weeks ago in Anderson's Bay, via:, a golden wedding, on the occasion, of which occurred r th<». happy reunion bf the Various 1 bratiches ■of a much respected family. The happy pair were the venerable Mr and Mrs J-jomerville, wjip^e; fiftieth; marriage day qccurred on Thursday, 28th utl., and of whose married life more than half has been spent, ia. Otago. With a young family .they - : arrived _n the- province ->" iii th c month of September,. 1848, being pasjsengers.in: the third ( yesselrthat } reached tjiese "shores withim.rnigi'ahts.' Witiiesses of all the changes. a*a.d progress which the province has made since -then, they have won for theihselves the high respect of all who have* made ' their acquaintance, and have teen the recipients ofthe most devoted affection from their -sons, and da , ughte'rs~most of them now heads of families of their qWU— yet not the less mindful of the father and mother that still remain to them, entitled -both by nature and by character to have fulfilled towards them the iiig_k command, '" honor thy father and they mother." Of this a pleasing proof was given ori the 28th tilt., under the roof of the aged pair, when the scattered branches of their family assembled to do honor to their worthy parents, and tender their loving respects on the return of their- rgftieth marriage day. On the occasion there gathered around the original family board, which was graced with a large and handsome wedding cake, provided unknown to the patriarchal pair (the aged parents), five sons, two daughters, one son.-in-law, four daiigVers-in-law, and nineteen grand daughters ; a happy party, in the midst of which many pleasing reminiscences were recounted, and events of bye-gone days of family interest recalled to mind. The venerable pair were presented with gold spectacles each., contributed for by their sons, and accompanied with the wish that they might yet be long spared to make use of thera,_and gladden with their .presence '{heir children and their phiidrenV children; ' We are not aware that any similar celebration has taken place in Otago. We know, however, of another remarkable couple., connected With Mr and Mrs Someryille by- the marriage of a daughter to ia son of the latter, who still survive, and- are now Spending together the fifty^owth;!©^ 6f their married life, whose golden wedding day occurred therefore more than four years ; ago. Itds Tare Hhat such longivity is witnessed in families; so closely allied" as. are the. families of Mr Somervillei of ■ Andesson-V.Bay, and Mr George Brown, of Tokomairiro. May both ,of the aged pairs be long spared to witnessihe'prbspjerity of the families they are deeply interested in, and to enjoy many a return of the wedding days they have bee*n already, so long privileged -to, commemorate. To many of our reader's it will be known* that the : special subjects of this notice are the parents of 'those early iettlprs* arid .respected \ . mercta^ts. t#e Somerville, of Waitepeka.