GOLDEN WEDDING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19736, 8 September 1927, Page 12

GOLDEN WEDDING.

MR. AND MRS. R. W. WHITE.

BOTH BORN IN AUCKLAND

The golden wedding of Mr and .Mrs. R. W White, of Wellington Street, .Auckland, who were married at St. Matthew's Church, Auckland, on Septembei 8, 1877. will b" celebrated to-dav.

Mr White was born at Awarua, Waineki? Island, m 1848 His parents lived in several parts of the country until about 1863. when they settled at Coromandel. When the Waikato War broke out the Maoris at Co'romande; threatening and the family moved to Auckland for safety. Mr White was apprenticed to Mr. Henry Niccol, shipbuilder, whose yards were at Mechanics' Bay, near where the railway overhead bridge is now.

Mr. White can remember 'when schooners used to load at a jetty on the site of Messrs. L. D. Nathan and Company's building in Fort Street. When the tide was out, he used to avoid the climb up Shortland Street on his way to Parnell by taking a short cut over the slipperyrocks of the shore %vhere Fort Street now runs When the Thames gold-rush started Mr. White had just completed his apprenticeship and early in August, 1867, he went with the late Mr. Edward Hines and the late Mr. N. Pollard to join the rush to the new field. They pegged out one of the first claims on the Waiotahi block.

After five years prospecting Mr. White returned to Auckland, and entered the employ of Mr. John Taylor, contractor, acting as foreman during tho construction of the first railway wharf built in Auckland. About two years later he set up as a contractor on his own account nnd later went into partnership with Mr. R. R. Hunt Mr. White did a large amount of railway formation work between Hamilton and Te Aroha, and was also engaged on manv works in the harbour, including the Stanley Bay Wharf and the breastwork between the Queen Street Wharf and the dock at the foot of Albert Street. He carried on the business until about six years ago, when he retired from regular work Mrs: White was Miss Eleena Coghlan and she also was born in Auckland. The marrinc-p ceremonv was performed by the Rev. Mr. Hasrard. There are four children, Mrs. M Buckley* of Devonport. Mrs. A. McCullough, of Grev Lynn, "Mrs. A. TTallett. of Tiemu'era. and Mr. W. White, of Wellington Street. There are 11 grandchildren.

The anniversary gathering is to be held in St. Matthew's nnrish hall, which was the original St. Matthew's Church in which Mr and Mrs White were married.