A GOLDEN WEDDING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19856, 28 January 1928, Page 12

A GOLDEN WEDDING.

SETTLERS OF MARLBOROUGH. MEMORIES OF COACHING DAYS. Well-known settlers of Have Jock, Marlborough, Mr. and Mrs. William Pickering, celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their wedding in Auckland on Thursday. They are staying with their daughter, Mrs. C. L. Low, of Remuera. Many telegrams of congratulation have been received, Mr. Pickering, who is in his 83rd year, was born in Melbourne, but shortly after his birth his parents went back to England. Eut their hearts were in the colonies, and in 1860 Mr. Pickering and his parents arrived in New Zealand by the sailing ship Zealandia. Tha following year they went to Picton, and Mr. Pickering has resided in the Marlborough district ever since. He was married in 1878 to Miss Kate Danslin, who, at the age of six, arrived in Blenheim from her native Tasmania 62 years ago. Soon after his arrival at Haveloc.k, Mr. Pickering entered the coaching business. In these picturesque days, when the railway was waiting its pioneers and large service cars had not been dreamed of, Mr. Pickering ran the first coach mail from Blenheim to Havelock, in .what was considered astounding time. He also made tha first trip between Blenheim and Nelson, organising the mail service between the Marlborough and Nelson districts. Mr. Pickering ran his coaches until about 10 years ago. Since then, Mr. Pickering has been living in retirement, but although his coaches are now a thing of the past, he has never bought a motor-car. H© realises that coaching days are past, and the motor js here to stay. But the thrill of driving strong and wiMing horses over a twining road still its placa in his heart. To him the days of the coaches were the "good, old days." Mr. and Mrs. Pickering have four sons and three daughters, all of them married, One married son died abont a year ago. There are 10 grandchildren.