DIAMOND WEDDING

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 13, 29 December 1931, Page 10

DIAMOND WEDDING

MR. AND MRS. J. JONES Mr and Mrs J. irones, of Clive, recently celebrated the 60th anniversary of their wedding. Over 60 friends attended a function last week-end to honour the occasion and to congratulate Mr and Mrs Jones on the completion of such a long period of married life. Mr Jones is 84 and Mrs Jones 82 years of age and both are enjoying splendid health in their advanced age. The breakfast was presided over by Mr B. Shadbolt, of Hastings, who in a few well chosen words extended good wishes to Mr and Mrs Jones and referred to their popularity amongst a wide circle of friends.

The health of the “diamond wedding couple” was proposed by Mr E. Bone. He spoke of the industry of Mr Jones who still carried on the farm, and Mrs Jones, who prepared most of the cooking and arrangements for the breakfast. He extended to them the wellwishes of all present and hoped they would have the honour of celebrating their pearl wedding in another five

years’ time, thus gaining a very distinct honour. The toast was accorded musical honours.

In responding, Mr Jones expressed appreciation of the remarks made and acknowledged the good wishes expressed, and the pleasure it gave Mrs Jones and himself to see so many present to honour the occasion. Quite an extensive and valuable array of presents was received. After the usual toast list had been honoured several photographs of tho assemblage were taken on the lawns, and the function proved highly successful in every way.

Mr Jones, who looks unusually fresh for a man of his age, said he was married at South Lyttelton (England) in 1871 just after the conclusion of tho Franco-Prussian wat and three years later came to New Zealand in the sailing vessel Winchester, arriving at Napier after an uneventful though protracted trip.

Mr and Mrs Jones then went to Longlands Station, where they worked for five years. Mr Jones then went to Waipariki (now known as East Clive) and took up dairying and has since resided in the district. Waipariki was then one of the main settlements in

the district. He remembers visiting what is now Hastings when it comprised three houses, and Napier was just a small township, the houses being in Shakespeare and Milton roads at the foot of the hills. There were bridges at Clive and Waitangi even in those days and the roads were reasonably well formed for the type of traffic then in use. Both Mr and Mrs Jones co.mo of a family of “long-livers.” Mr Jones has one brother and two sisters living in Worcestershire, aged 86, 72, 76, respectively, and Mrs Jones has three brothers living in Hertfordshire, aged 80, 78 and 74 respectively. Among the guests present at the function were Misses Anna V. Briasco, Betty Shadbolt, Ida Joll, Jean Joll, Imelda Kelly, L. M. Ebbett, and Veronica Smith; Mesdames T. Foster, J. D. Campbell, A. Durie, S. J. Bendall; Mr and Mrs J. B. Creagh, Mr and Mrs B. Shadbolt, Mr and Mrs J. D. Briasco, senr., Captain and Mrs Brusey, Mr and Mrs H. Goodehild, Mr and Mrs P. Olliver, Mr and Mrs A. H. P. Briasco, Mr and Mrs W. P. H. Saunders, Mr and Mrs G. Joll, Mr and Mrs C. Bone, Mr and Mrs L. Downing, Mr and Mrs J. D. A. Briasco, iMr and Mrs A. S.

Walker, Mr and Mrs A. T. Thornburrow, Mr and Mrs F. Powell, and many others.