GOLDEN WEDDING

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 149, 19 March 1936, Page 5

GOLDEN WEDDING

Mr. and Mrs. Mason Chambers HAWKE’S BAY PIONEERS Tlie people of Hawke’s Bay and with them many others throughout New Zealand, extended their heartiest congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. T. Mason Chambers, of “Tauroa,” Havelock North, recently, on Hie celebration of their golden wedding. The occasion was celebrated by a quiet family gathering. The life-work of Mr. and Mrs. Chambers is represented by many lasting memorials in Hawke’s Bay. As pioneers they have made a large contribution to the development of the province. Mr. Chambers is the -sou of the late Mr. John Chambers, one of the very early pioneers in New Zealand who, in the early 'fifties, made a clearing in the most fern-covered area and built for his family a home at Te Mata. It was there that the famous Te Mata Hocks, the progenitors of which were brought by Mr. Chambers’ father from New South Wales, were raised. Mr. Chambers was married in St. Paul’s Church, Napier, on March. 11, ISSG, by the Rev. Mr. Pattison, Mrs. Chambers being a daughter of the late Mr. Joseph McLean, solicitor of Dunblane, Scotland. The late Mr. B- S. McLean, who practised in Napier for many years as a solicitor, was her brother. Mr. Chambers entered public life in ISS-1, when he became a member of the Havelock Road Board, which controlled the whole of the Havelock riding, which then included the Waimarama riding. He remained a member of the board until its abolition • and absorption into the Hawke’s Bay County in 1895. when he became a member of the Hawke’s Bay County Council for the new Havelock riding. With the exception of a short period spent overseas, Mr. Chambers represented the riding continuously until last year. For some years he was chairman of the council. Mr, Chambers served as a member on the Hawke’s Bay Hospital Board for a number of years as a representative of the Hawke’s Bay County. In this work he was associated with Mr. W. Shrimpton, who was chairman of the board for many years, the late Mr. H. B. Cohen, the late Mr. J. B. Andrew and the late Mr. Henry Hill.

In addition Mr. Chambers has served on many organisations for the welfare of the people generally. He was a joint benefactor in tlie gift of the beautiful Te Mata Park by the Chambers family to the people of Hastings and Hawke’s Bay. Maori lore and customs have greatly interested him since his youth. He has a wide knowledge of the activities during the early colonising days of the pioneers from the United KingdOfi and is one of the founders of the Hawke’s Bay-Historical Society, which Is' taking active steps to record the history of the Maori race in the province.