GOLDEN WEDDING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19389, 26 July 1926, Page 10

GOLDEN WEDDING.

" FATHER OF DEVONPORT."

HON* E. W. AND MRS. ALISON. NOTABLE PUBLIC SERVICE. A notable event in the lives of two of Auckland's leading citizens will be celebrated to-da'y in the golden wedding of the Hon. E. W. Alison and Mrs. Alison. With the exception of a short period spent abroad, Mr. and Mrs. Alison have resided at North Shore the whole of. their married life, first at Devonport and then at Takapuna. In the space of half-a-century, Mr. Alison has become known as the> "father of Devonport," while Mrs. Alison, by her many acts of kindness and private benevolence, has endeared herself to the hearts of all whose lives have touched hers. Mr. Alison is a native of Auckland. On .July • 26,* 1876, he married Miss Annie Coleman, who was born in Manchester. The ceremony was performed in St. Andrew's Church, Epsom, by the Rev. Joseph Bates, afterwards vicar of the Anglican Church at Devonport. Mr. and Mrs. Alison lived first at Grey Street, then at Melrose, and afterwards moved to their present home, Lochaber, Takapuna. In the years that followed his marriage, Mr. Alison worked zealously for the progress of Devonport and with his brother, the late Mr., A. Alison, built up the ferry service that has been the main factor in' the' development of the marine borough from an unimportant and more or less isolated seaside district into one of Auckland's most progressive and popular suburbs. Throughout the whole period of the Devonport Ferry Company's activity,. Mr. Alison has, been its guiding spirit and its principal motive power. In civic enterprise, Mr. Alison has also rendered notable service. In 1889 he was elected Mayor of the Borough of Devonport, and held office for five consecutive years. He then resigned the mayoralty," but some years " later was again appointed Mayor, remaining in office for four years. As Mayoress, Mrs. Alison was called upon to perform her share of civic duties and proved a popular hostess and efficient leader of Devonport's social activities. Mr; Alison represented Waitemata, in the House of Eepresentatives from 1902 to 1908, when he retired. He has been a member of the Legislati ve Council since 1918.

A reception will be held this afternoon by Mr. and Mrs. Alison at their home, Lochaber, Takapuna, and among the large gathering of friends who will attend the function will be Mrs. W. Mcllwraith, of Epsom, who gave the newly-wedded couple their wedding breakfast 50 years ago.

There will also be a family reunion in honour of the day, consisting of Mr. and Mrs. Alison's three sons and two daughters, Messrs". Ewen, Ernest and Alick Alison, and Mesdames J. Fotheringham and I. J. Mair, and 11 grand-children. The staff of the Devonport Steam. Ferry Company will make a presentation to Mr. Alison this morning.