FIFTY YEARS MARRIED

Northern Advocate, 23 March 1936, Page 4

FIFTY YEARS MARRIED

PARUA BAY COUPLE Mr. and Mrs, Joseph Beasley, o: Parua Bay, have just celebrated then Golden Wedding, and over 50 years o: life in the district. Mr. Beasley was born at Coventry England, in 1860, and when three year: of age, came to New Zealand with hi; parents in the ship Columbus. Hii father was a carpenter toy trade, anc after spending about two years ir Auckland, went to the Thames goldfields. When Mr. Beasley, ’was 1C years of age he came North with his father, who set to work to carve out a home in the bush at Parua Bay, first , building a shanty in which to live/ Mr. Beasley’s father retired to Whangarei in about 1909 or 1910. On March 3, 1886, Mr. Beasley mar-; ried Miss Blagrove, who was bom in New Zealand, the Rev. L. L. Cubitt performing the ceremony. There were six so ni and two daughters, five sons and one daughter surviving. Those living are Charles (Manurewa), Herbert (District Engineer of Railways, Auckland), Arthur (Auckland), Victor (Parua Bay) and Reg (Parua Bay). Fred! was killed at the Great War. The surviving daughter is Mrs. L. Newberry (Manurewa), the other having died when an infant.

Mr, and Mrs. Beasley, have resided for the whole of their married' life at Parua Bay, andi Mr. Beasley this morning recalled the great changes that have taken place in the past half century. ,In those days it took a full diy to reach Whangarei. through' the bush tracks and mud, and it always l meant staying the night ,in Whangarei before returning. The bush stretched, right to the 'water’s edge, and there only a few clearings.