FIFTY BUSY YEARS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19833, 31 December 1927, Page 2 (Supplement)

FIFTY BUSY YEARS.

PEER'S GOLDEN WEDDING.

MEMORIES OF GLADSTONE.

'.■. . . , i LORD 'ABERDEEN'S LONG LIFE.

"In- my long and active political and Official career, I- have had few busier moments, and certainly none more pleaBant, than my activities of the last few days." The speaker was the veteran Marquis oi Aberdeen and Temair, who, on the eve of his golden wedding recently, was delving into sweet memory's store. Lord and Lady Aberdeen celebrated their fifty years of happy married life, by fi, unique luncheon party at 27 GrosvenorSquare. The Louise, which was lent; by the present occupiers, was built by Lord and Lady Aberdeen for their first home. Despite his eighty' yes .-4, Lord Aberdeen still leads a reularkably active life, and together with Lady Aberdeen, who is the President of the Canning , Town Women's Settlement, takes a keen Interest in social welfare work.

" It will be quite a welcome rest to retire again into private life," said Lord Aberdeen, to an interviewer, who found him busily engaged with his secretary clearing off a mass of correspondence. "This golden wedding of ours is quite as serious an affair as our real wedding fifty years ago, for we have been overWhelmed with presents and kind wishes from innumerable friends, many of whom we have not seen for years. It is pleasing to know they still think of us." Drawing on his reminiscences, Lord Aberdeen said he still had vivid memories of - the first time he saw Queen Vi ctoria, when, as a five-year-old boy, his mother took him to a private family audience at Buckingham Palace.

" My, Parliamentary. career," jidded Lord Aberdeen, " began as long ago as 1873, when I made my first speech in the House of Lords, but it Was not until 1880 that I definitely joined the Liberal Party, after having been one of the guests of Lord and Lady Rosebery at Dalmeny on the occasion of Mr. Gladstone's historic first Midlothian campaign. "One of the great privileges and joys of our life in those days was oar close friend' ship with Mr. and Mrs. Gladstone, and between 1882 and 1893 they wore our frequent week-end guests at our houses near Hendon and Pollis Hill. They used to come down oa Friday night after the Commons had risen, and it was one of Mr. Gladstone's peculiarities that no matter how late the hour his first request was a cup of tea to be made by myself."