DIAMOND JUBILEE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23218, 12 December 1938, Page 3

DIAMOND JUBILEE

REMUERA RESIDENTS

MR. AND MRS. G. ARDERN

VOYAGE IN THE LADY JOCELYN

Married near Manchester on December 11, 1878, Mr. and Mrs. G. Ardern, of Vincent Avenue, Remuera, yesterday quietly celebrated their diamond wedding with a few friends. They have been residents of Auckland for well over half a century, where Mr. Ardern, until his retirement, was engaged in the hardware business. Mrs. Ardern was born in Brantford, Ontario, Canada, 81 years ago, and went to England as a child. She has many vivid and interesting recollections of Canada threequarters of a century ago and of an eventful voyage to New Zealand. Mrs. Ardern's father was one of those engaged in the construction of the Grand Trunk Railway line across Canada, and the home was moved from time to time as the work progressed. "There were French-Canadians everywhere about us," said Mrs. Ardern 011 Saturday, "and I learned to speak French before I could speak English." The Canadian winters she well remembers, .with snow and ice from November to April and the great St. Lawrence River at Queboc ice-bound for several months. Storm in the Channel Some five years after their marriage by the Rev. James Beddell, Mr. and Mrs. Ardern sailed in August, 1883, in the Lady Jocelyn for New Zealand. The vessel met with a terrible storm in the English Channel. The mainmast was broken, bulwarks were carried away and offices reported that there was a large hole in the side of the ship. Water washed to a depth of

4ft. across the saloon, with much of the passengers' property in it. No cooking could be done, and the passengers subsisted on arrowroot from noon 011 a Saturday until Monday morning, when the stricken ship got back to Portsmouth for repairs. It was not surprising that after this experience a doctor, a stewardess and a number of the passengers left the .ship, refusing to face the perils of tho sea again. However, when the journey was resumed calm weather was experienced, and indeed the ship was becalmed for three weeks in the tropics. Mrs. Ardern recalled the old-time sea chanties that the sailors used to sing as they were hauling 011 the ropes. Wellington was reached on December • 31, 1883. and the passengers, numbering about 230. came ashore 011 New Year's Day. A few days later Mr. and Mrs. Ardern voyaged up the west coast in the Takapuna, then a smart new boat, and they have made Auckland their home ever since.

Hardware Business For about 15 years Mr. Ardern was engaged with the hardware firm of E. Porter and Company, and then in 1900 he set up in business for himself at the top of Symonds Street. He to carry that on for 20 years until' his retirement in 1920. Mr. Ardern was born in Cheshire 82 years ago, but the years have touched him very lightly, and he is a man of alert activity and keen humour. Apart from his business his chief interest has been in Bible study, and ho has led a number of study groups in different parts of the city and suburbs. He is also a keen and expert gardener. On his section of nearly an acre the vegetable garden in particular bears eloquent testimony to his skill and industry. With Mr, and Mrs. Ardern live their daughter and son, the son being Mr. Philip Ardern, lecturer in English at the Auckland College.