RE=UNITED.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1522, 19 August 1912, Page 7

RE=UNITED.

♦- ; AFTER NEARLY 22 YEARS SEPARATION. THE STORY OF CHRISTOPHER SAUNDERSON. (By Tclcsraph.-Speoial Correspondent.) Auckland, August 17. Quite a romance has come to its happy consummation in Auckland by the reunion of Christopher Saunderson and his mother, after over 20 years' separation. Twenty-four years ago, there was born a babo in tho eighth houso of Upper Queen Street, Onehuuga. Seated on the verandah of that very same houso in this morning's sunshine, a representative of tho "Star" found Mrs. Saunderson. -'A modest, homely lady of middle age, surrounded by her mother (Mrs. Hill), her sister (Mrs. Kelsall), ■ and several other fanjily connections. Her newly-found son (Christopher), and his only brother (Stanley) had gone out walking, but they returned later. Although being' averse to publicity, Mrs. Saunderson told tho interviewer that after her marriage nt Auckland in 1887. She and her husband lived at Ponsouby. Her husband, Charles Saunderson decided upon a trip .to America with his mother nnd by mutual consent ho took with him his balx- boy, a littlo moro than one year old. Mrs.' Saunderson expressed a preference to remain with her people. Although tho parting between husband and wife was of a friendly nature, the latter never had a lino of direct communication' from Saunderson or his mother after their departure for America in 1889.'. For a few years sho gained indirect tidings through friends in tho country, who occasionally heard from Mrs. Saunderson, sen. Believing that her relatives were, in San Francisco at tho time of the great earthquake, Mrs. Saunderson instituted inquiries per medium of tho postal authorities, but they were to no purpose. About four months ago she read an advertisement in an Auckland paper, requesting that anyone knowing her whereabouts should convmunicato with' Thomas, Westoby, whoso American address .was given, Sho replied to'tlio advertisement and received a letter by return explaining that Mr. Westoby was a friend of her son, that ho had known his father before him, and that he. had since ascertained their former address from a marriago certificate. After the death of tho grandmother he had spent a year trying to get into touch with the relatives of Christopher Saunderson, who, in tho United States, was known m Chris. Ward, tho name also taken by his father. Tho writer expressed pleasure at having been instrumental in reuniting tho family. Ho stated that it would-not be long before Mrs. Saunderson "would havo her son with her, and remarked that ho was a son of whom she had reason to bo proud. From the lips of Christopher Saunderson himself, and in a dialect naturally enough savouring of tho American, tho story of his lifo after passing from.New Zealand was learned by the \pressman. His homo was with his father and grandmother for tho i most part in San Francisco. His chief employment, after leaving school, was on the United Railroads in San- Francisco, but for a time ho had worked in the Post Office. In 1003 his father becamo suddenly ill and died in tho hospital, while in 1907 his grandmother also passed away. Placed on his own resources, and having no knowledge of tho existence of any relatives, the New Zealand youth travelled through ,n number of tho Western States of America, and it. was only nftev his return to San Francisco that Westoby gavo him the information be had become possessed of in connection with his parentage. Ho said he had procured from Wellington a copy of Sirs, Saunderson's birth and marriage certificates and also that he had sent an advertisement to the Auckland "Star." It was'not long after this that a reply arrived from his mother and upon learning that sho was alive nnd well, as also was his younger brother (Mr. Stanley Saunderson, of tho staff of Macklow's pharmacy, Onehunga). he set about making preparations for his homecoming. _ "Am I pleased to be here?" he observed in reply to a ciisunl remark. "I should imagine I was because its Auckland and Onehunga in particular that has been occupying my mind for a good time past. Oh, ye 3, I've come to stay so far as I can'say at present, but ono" never.knows. fhis_ seems to be a very nice littlo place and its good to feel that you're at home." 'Wo will hold on to von now we have you. observed his brother, and the remark appeared to find affectionate cn-(loi-sement all round. TA brief account of Saunderson's story appeared in last Friday's Dominion.]