GOLDEN WEDDING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 19 July 1929, Page 6

GOLDEN WEDDING.

AIR. AND MRS. GEORGE TAYLOR. A FAAIILY GATHERING. A very pleasant time was spent yesterday afternoon in the- Savoy by Air and Mrs George Taylor, of “Belmont,” Argyle Street, and seventy guests, the occasion being the celebration of the 50th anniversary of their wedding. After afternoon tea had been partaken of, a short toast list wax lion-, oured. The Rev. R. E. Evans presided, and in proposing the toast of the King, referred to the gratification of all at the King’s- return to health. Air LI. G. Dickie, in happy style, proposed the toast of Air and Mrs Taylor, and said that he remembered their arrival in AVaverley 50 years ago. He wished them good health and a diamond jubilee in due course. Air J. E. Corrigan proposed the toast of the “Family,” and spoke in eulogistic strain of the contribution made by the guests and their family. Air J. E. Campbell toasted the grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and called upon them to emulate their elders.

Mr L. A. Taylor proposed the toast of “Old Friends,’’ which was responded to by Mrs J. S. Young and Messrs Pierce and Hobbs. Throughout. ( a ,spirit of congratulation. prevailed, and during the afternoon a sheaf of telegraphic messages were read out, including one from the Hawera Scottish Society. 'Dio decorations wore all gilded in honour of the occasion, and the wedding cake had a golden rim. INTERESTING RECOLLECTIONS. I SOUTH TARANAKI FIFTY YEARS j AGO. On July 18, 1879, in the AI id del-broom Hill Kirk, Edit. Aberdeen, a wedding u >i' s celebrated by ilev. A. Suter, the contracting parties being George Taylor, son of Mr and Mrs David, Taylor, 86 Jasmine Terrace, Aberdeen, and Mary, daughter of Mr and Mrs William Murray, of the parish of GJunie. Aberdeen. Yesterday, in the Savoy, Hawera, Mr and Mrs George Taylor celebrated the bOth anniversary of that auspicious event, surrounded by their family, their relations and their friends 1 and receiving their cordial felicitations. Mr Taylor was born on October 80, j ISbb, and Mrs Taylor on January 27, 1 1857, being thus 7-1 and 72 rears old respectively. ' 1 Five weeks after the wedding, Mr , Taylor told a “Hawera Star” repre- , sentative, lie and bis bride set sail in , the good ship A.rethnsa for New Zea-1 land, commanded by Captain Steven-(. son. of Dundee, reaching first the port I ' O'l Wellington, and thence transhipping j to the pioneer steamer, the Stormbird, under bluff Captain Fraser, and reach- \ ing W anganui on December 9. With them were Mr Taylor’s two brothers, -* David and Andrew, and Mrs Leonard t md Mr Bremer. Mr J. B. Taylor, who iad settled at Waverley six years previ- c uisly, was at Wanganui with a buggy o meet the ship and took the two mar- n ■ied couples while the single men wait- t ■d for a coach or a waggon. On the v ollowing day the former pairty reached t 7 nverley. Mr and Mrs Taylor lived there for b nearly five years, and in 1884 left for A

Otakeho and Kapuni, between which places, on the Alangawhero Road, oi what was going in the future to be that thoroughfare, he had bought a. farm, For six years, however, he managed a farm for Air G. S. Bridge, until Air T. A. Bridge, his son, took over the place. Then he went on to. his own place, which was in standing bush, 200 acres which he had bought from the previous owner, Rev. Air AJlsworth, the latter having taken, it on the deferred payment system and later paid cash for the land. The purchase price was LI 19s per acre, but he bought it after a year or two. at a. reduced figure. The contrast between that and present prices paid for land is remarkably striking. But fifty years ago the land was heavy bush, and there were no roads to it and consequently no access. He got permission, however, to cut a four-feet pack track through the bush to give entrance to the back, front what is now Riama. Road, and later to the front from the Rowan Road. He cleared a. little bit of bush and packed timber in from a. mill, owned by Afessrs Parkes and Palmer, on the Alanaia Road. It was on the land where now stands the Kapuni railway station, and was owned by ALT'. Tait. There he and a friend built the four-ioomed house that was to be the homo of himself and his wife and

young family for a. number of years Airs Taylor, with her young children followed him after a year or so, bavin remained behind at Waverley until h could make accommodation for them There was in 188 b no railway line pas ALnnutahi, and the family cam through to that point by rail and thei were brought on by a friend in a bugg; t 0 a farmhouse near the AVaingougoro where Air Taylor met them and tin journey was continued by waggon. Si rough was the trip that lie carried tin baby in bis. arms, and it was dillieuf i'n- them jto. keep their places on tin rough vehicle over the arduous j-nunicy _ Bu't they had stout hearts, tlioSi pioneers, and dangers and dilliculLie; Jid not daunt them. The couple settlec lown on the bush farm and there they nought up a large family of twelve, they remained on the farm until 1905, vhen they leased it and moved tc IJoyd’s house on the South Rond, remaining there for fourteen years, and n 1919 settling in their present home. Jr Taylor, however, stuck to the farm md still owns it, having it managed bv me of his boys and later leased to a Air Hen rile. The family consisted of twelve—six oys and six girls, but of the boys, one, j-eonard Aim-ray, was killed a.t the rent and lies, in Cite Ron jean Alilitavy lem-etery, Armentieros. Air and Mrs 'aylor were Home a year or two ago nd traversed the battlefields, naturally taking a special trip to the cemetery here their hoy lies‘with two pals, both tawera boys, Greig and Bayley. They ear witness to the wonderful order in hieli the graves are maintained. Three ledals were sent home from the front nd these are treasured iry the parents. The girls are Alesdame.s R. T. Bul-.(-k (Hawera), Tom Taft (Hawera), B. r oralwai'd (Gisborne), W. I l ’. Lyndon riuoa). Peacock, and Ward (Tokaora), id the sons, George (Auckland), 'illie (R ua.wai). I lerbert (Cairo), eotor (Tokaora), Douglas (Waitolira). There are also twenty-seven -andohildreii and five great-grnnd-lildren. Air Taylor was by trade a monuenta.l mason and was apprenticed, to at trade at the age of thirteen and wked at it until lie left the Old Cotiny. At the wedding fifty years ago the id coma, id was Aliss Eunice Kane (now i's Carnegie), now living in Dunedin.

She regretted very much being unable to be present at the jubilee. Two of those- present also, were Airs Andrew Taylor, mother of Air L. A. Taylor, ami Air William Alurray, of Alanaia, a brother of Airs George- Taylor. Telegrams, letters and gifts have been coming to hand for some days, and these comprise several valuable and much treasured presents given in 11.0110ur -of the occasion.