GOLDEN WEDDING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22166, 20 July 1935, Page 20

GOLDEN WEDDING

CAPTAIN AND MRS. M. STUART Captain and Mrs. Murdoch Stuart, of McLeod's Buy, Whangarei, descendants of Nova Scotia settlers, celebrated their golden wedding on Wednesday. Captain Stuart was the son of Captain Donald Stuart, who came to New Zenland in the Highland Lass. Captain Donald Stuart was one of the first, to found the Nova Scotia settlement at Whangarei Heads. Captain Murdoch Stuart, who was born at Whangarei Heads 77 years ago last May, can remember as a boy of seven seeing a 100-ton schooner constructed at the Heads for his father, and on which he subsequently sailed to Melbourne, Sydney and Colombo. While in his youth Captain Stuart sailed as an apprentice on the Rhoderick Dhu from Auckland in the intercolonial trade. Subsequently he was mate on the Welcome Home, and later, master in turn in three small coastal sailing vessels. He married Mary, daughter of Mr John Grant McLeod, and granddaughter of the Rev. Norman McLeod, who led the emigrants from Scotland to Nova Scotia, and thence to Waipu. After their marriage they lived at Wanganui for a number of years, where Captain Stuart was master of one of the river vessels. They later returned to Whangarei, and for a number of years Captain Stuart, jn his capacity of pilot, piloted all the large overseas vessels which at that time visited the freezing works at Reotahi.

About 10 years ago ho resigned his position of pilot, and since then Captain and Mrs. Stuart have resided at McLeod's Bay, where they control the post office. Mrs. Stuart has always been an acquisition to the circles in which she has moved, being a fine singer. Both are very active workers in the Presbyterian Church. The children of the marriage are Mrs. Cowperthwaite, Mount Eden; Mrs. Dunlop, late of Gisborne; Mr. Claude Stuart, schoolteacher; and Miss Heather Stuart, who is living with hqr parents.