ROMANCE OF FIFTY YEARS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22172, 27 July 1935, Page 15

ROMANCE OF FIFTY YEARS

OLD COUPLE'S WEDDING BRIDEGROOM INTERVIEWED Ninetv-one years of age, a pupil of Sir Robert Stout, a close friend of Sir Julius Vogel, and the first man to beat a drum in a musical organisation in Dunedin, Mr. William Howell was married at Ashburton last Tuesday to Mrs. Christina Lawson, aged 73 years, states the Otago Daily Times. The old couple knew each other in Dunedin over 50 years ago, but their ways parted and they did not come together again till about seven years agOj when they met in Ashburton, where Mr. Howell had been residing for some years before that. They were married by the Rev. G. B. Hinton, Methodist minister, who was assisted by the Rev. Ronald S. Watson, Presbyterian minister. • Mr. Howell is a remarkably active man and possesses a retentive memory. In an interview he recounted many tales of Dunedin in its early days, as far back as 1857, when he arrived there, a lad of 13. " With my father and mother we landed at Auckland in 1857," said Mr. Howell, "and after remaining there only three months went to Dunedin, where my father, George Howell, set up the first brick kiln."

Mr. Howell stated that he knew Sir James Mills as a shipping clerk for " Johnny " Jones. He speaks of Julius Vogel, of Stroude, the magistrate, of Caleott, the clerk of the Court, and of William Logie, the butcher, all of whom he knew intimately, and he tells of the time when " Johnny " Jones fought with his groom, " Black Joe." One morning Jones said to Joe, "I'll give.you £5 if you will let me have a round or two with you to get up an appetite for breakfast." Joe replied, " All right, boss. I will accommodate you," and the fight was on. Joe won and with the money he received from his employer he purchased a new suit of clothes.