SEVENTY YEARS MARRIED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14208, 3 November 1909, Page 5

SEVENTY YEARS MARRIED.

UNIQUE CELEBRATION.

AN AGED, BUT HAPPY COUPLE.

It is rare, indeed, that those who cmbark upon the sea of matrimony sail their ship together successfully for a period of 70 years, but such has been the good fortune of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Bilkey, of Buckland, who - completed the 70th year of their married life>on October 31. This event was fittingly made the subject of special celebration, and yesterday Mr. ' and Mrs. Bilkey entertained a large number of friends at the residence of their daughter, Mrs. Davey, of Buckland, when many congratulatory sentiments were conveyed to the old couple. % Mr. and Mrs. Bilkey were married on October 31,1839, at the parish church, Ludgvan, Cornwall, and they have now attained the advanced age of 00. and 93 years, respectively, and in spite of the web of time which has weaved itself about them they, are still as hale, healthy, and hearty as many who arc years their junior. The general vivacity and good health enjoyed by the old couple was brought home very forcibly during the day by the way in which they went through what must have been a somewhat trying, though nevertheless, a very pleasant time. Indeed, this fact was the subject of very general comment among the guests, of whom it is estimated there were between 400 and ■ 500 present, and it Was universally conceded that Mr. Bilkey's reply -to 'the main toast was one of the best speeches of the day. Ten years ago — in 1899—Mr. and Sirs. Bilkey celebrated their diamond wedding, and tho present anniversary has been termed a "radium" wedding. In early life Mr. Bilkey was, and, indeed, still is, a farmer, and was among the first to introduce Berkshire pigs into Cornwall. Mr. Bilkey's father held a position for many years under General Tremenhere, and Mr.' Bilkey himself occupied a somewhat similar position to that held by his father, for about twenty years. The newspaper Cornishman, in a brief pen picture of Mr. Bilkey, published soon after he and his wife celebrated their diamond wedding, says of him: — Always a tenant of the Tremenheres, in the fifties and early sixties, he became as well known as any of the farmers of the day, his shrewdness, his speech, his hearty laugh, and his -burly frame, all tending to popularity." And even to-day, though 10 years have gone by, the same sentence could be written with equal truth and faithfulness. Mr. Bilkey came out to New Zealand in 1865. and Settled at Onehunga, where he stayed for 14 years, whence he moved to Buckland, which has since been his home. Always he has been a son of the soil, and •to the fine healthy out-of-door occupation must be given some of the credit for the fine picture of revered old age which Mr. Bilkey presents to-day. No health "fads" have come his way; he has just lived an ordinary healthy life, with muqli the same stock of everyday habits as other people. He has been, and still is, a smoker, and has never been a total abstainer. - He has in the past been somewhat celebrated-as a farmer, and something of a curiosity was shown at the reception yesterday in the nature of a beautiful little silver snuffbox, which bore an inscription stating that it was presented to Mr. Bilkey in 1853 by the parishioners of Paul, "in recognition of his skill as a farmer," and the little snuffbox is to-day a valued treasure. ■ * Mr. and Mrs. Bilkey have four sons and two daughters, all of whom are resi- , dent in the Pukekohe and Buckland district, and 33 grandchildren and 28 greatgrandchildren. The four generations were all represented at the celebration. The breakfast) was partaken of ' at one p.m. in two large marquees erected in the grounds of Mrs. Davey's house, the Rev. F. Dobson presiding. The weddingcake, it is worth mentioning, was made by Mrs. Edwin ■ Bilkey, and presented to Mrs. Bilkey, sen., who was also the recipient of a very handsome shawl, which she wore during the day, and which was presented by the grandchildren. The bridal bouquet was made and presented by Mrs. D. Wily, of Buckland, and Mrs. Brown, of Tuakau, also presented a handsome bouquet. • . •'; J -' About 600 invitations were issued for the breakfast, a very large proportion of which were accepted, the rain keeping a number away. Among those present were:—Messrs. F. Lawry, M.t\, R. Monk, and Major Harris. The following telegram was received from Sir Joseph Ward : —"My heartiest congratulations to you both upon the celebration of the 70th anniversary of your marriage. I hope that the long life you have spent together may continue for many years. It would have, afforded me great pleasure to have been present to join your friends- in doing honour to you both,, upon such a happy and memorable occasion. . I send you my kindest wishes.— G. Ward." A congratulatory telegram was also received from Mrs. W. F. Massey, on behalf of herself and her husband, and Hon. W. W. McCardle, Hon. J. McGowan, M.L.C.'s, Messrs. Bollard and Phillipps, M.P.'s, and Wilkinson, of Cheviot, and between 20 and 30 others also sent messages of congratulation. A large number of very handsome presents were received, amongst them being a beautifully ornamented shield in rimu,' decorated with silver, from, the people of Buckland. The Pukekohe Band was in attendance and added to the gaiety of the festivities by playing a. number of suitable selections. After a thoroughly enjoyable day the company broke up between five and six o'clock, the various visitors wending their way" homewards. In the evening a sue-j cessfuJ dance was held in' the Pukekohe Hall for the young neople, at which a large number of people were present. A most enjovable evening was spent, and was a fitting conclusion to a unique and unprecedented celebration.