GOLDEN WEDDING

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 299, 14 September 1931, Page 4

GOLDEN WEDDING

Mr. and Mrs. Hope Gibbons

WANGANUI’S BENEFACTORS

Dominion Special Service Wanganui, September 13. Mr. and Mrs. Hope Gibbons, of Wanganui, will celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of their wedding to-morrow. Their four sons, Messrs. Hope, Alfred, Robert and Norman Gibbons, of Wellington, and their only daughter, Mrs. A. R. Gibbons, Lower Hutt, together with their children, are at Wanganui for the celebration. Mr. Gibbons was born in Tasmania in 1856 and arrived in New Zealand in 1862. Ho was educated at Nelson. After a variety of occupations, which included sawmilling and lightering, he acquired a business of his own at Batea. It was to Paten that he took his bride, Miss

Barnes, who had come with her parents to New Zealand from London. He began public life at Patea as a member of the borough council. In 1895 Mr. Gibbons came to Wanganui, where he has lived ever since. Mr. Gibbons is chairman and director of a number of large'companies. These companies control large interests and employ hundreds of hands. He and his sons have the controlling interest in the i.'olonial Motor Company, with branches all over New Zealand. During the war Mr. Gibbons took, a leading part in the efforts to raise funds and equipment, and received the M.B.E. He has given Wanganui public parks, and also a fine residence at Gonville to be used as a St. Helens Hospital, xhe Beautifying Society and Plunket Society also have to thank Mr. Gibbons for. help he has given them. lor three years he was Mayor of Wanganui, and was also for some years a member of the Wanganui Harbour Board. He is still a member of the Wanganui-Rangitikei Power Board. Mr. Gibbons has been for two world tours in company with Mrs. Gibbons. ' • Mr. and Mrs. Gibbons have entertained most hospitably at their home in Wanganui East, both privately and publicly.