MARRIED 56 YEARS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 79, 2 March 1938, Page 12

MARRIED 56 YEARS.

MR AND MRS C. J. BEARD. Mr and Mrs C. J. Beard, of Princess Street, Palmerston North, who were both born in the Hutt Valley nearly 80 years ago, celebrated the fifty-sixth anniversary of their wedding to-day. Mr Beard’s parents came to New Zealand in 1857 in the ship Alma, and he was born near the old blockhouse at Upper Hutt, on March 12. 1859. Mrs Beard’s parents, the late Mr and Mrs Thomas Braggins, arrived in the ship Oliver Lang about 1858, and she was born a few years later in Lower Hutt. Mr and Mrs Beard were married in St. Luke’s Church, Greytown, by Rev. V. White, on March 2, 1882, and they settled in the district, where Mr Beard was well-known as a builder and contractor. He retired about 13 years ago and came to live in Palmerston North.

Mr Beard was keenly interested in local body government, and in all branches of sport. One of the founders of the Wairarapa ltugby Union, he was also one of the original players, and in 1888 represented the Wellington province against the visiting team from New South AVales on their first tour of New Zealand. He was looked upon as one of the best forwards of the day, and again took the field as a representative . player against a New South Wales team on a second visit. Among other things, Mr Beard was one of the founders of the Wairarapa. Trotting Club, and was chairman of the stewards for 18 vcars. At one time or another he has served on practically all 'lie local bodies in Greytown. He sat on the council for 14 years, and set up a record by being chairman of the Greytown School Committee for 18 years. Mrs Beard was also prominent in social work in the district, and took an active interest in Red Cross work during the Great War. There are four sous and two daughters: Messrs W. R. Beard (New Plymouth), E. G. Beard (Rangiotu). F. H. Beard (Auckland) and C. R. Beard (Palmerston North), and Mesdames W. F. Drake (Wellington) and H. H Finn (Whakatane). There are 18 grandchildren.