DIAMOND WEDDING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24421, 5 October 1940, Page 16

DIAMOND WEDDING

MR AND MRS JAMES ROBSON On September 29.. 1880. at the residence of Mr and Mrs Currie. South Dunedin, James Robson was married to Jessie Ann Ritchie. The ceremony was conducted by the Rev. A. G. Boyde. On September 29, 1940, at the residence of their youngest son, Mr •All Robson, Mr and Mr James Robson celebrated their diamond wedding. They .were entertained at a family reunion at their old home at Niagara, Southland. Mr H. Coster, one of Waikawa's very early settlers and an old friend, presided at the function. Telegrams of congratulations were read from the following:—Their Majesties the King and Queen, the Governor-General (Viscount Galway) and Lady Galway, the Prime Minister (Mr P. Fraser), M. E. Trail and family (Riverton), Muir and family (Woodlands), Mr and Mrs Shirley, sen. (Woodlands). H. Allan (Riverton). H. McLellan (Riverton), L. and B. Young (Orangapai), Ted Robson and family (Waiau). Tulloch Johnston (Nightcaps). M. and T. Smith (Tokanui). The toast of the "bride and bridegroom" was proposed by Mr William Weir and Mr Robson responded, thanking all for their kindness to them. Mrs George Benze. on behalf of the family, presented the "bride and bridegroom " with an eiderdown quilt. A number of useful presents were also handed to them by their friends. The members of the family present were Mr and Mrs William R. Robson and family, Dunedin; Mr and Mrs James Robson,. jun., Tokanui; Mr and Mrs George Benge, Rivertcft; Mrs Robert Robson and family, Balclutha; Mr and Mrs Alf Robson and family, Niagara. Mr and Mrs William Robson, in spite of their strenuous life, are looking remarkably well. Along with his parents Mr Robson left Hexhamshire, England, in the ship Wellington, sailing from Grennock on November 28, 1878. He landed at Port Chalmers on February 18, 1879. Mr Robson's first situation was ploughman for Mr D. Milligan at Warepa. Then he joined his parents, who had taken up a farm at Inchclutha. He was married on September 29, 1880, and for some time lived at Summerhill, Stirling, and at Kaitangata. In 1883 he moved to Mimi haw Valley, in Lower Mataura, near Wyndham, and there carried on contract road-making for the Tutuaru and Wyndham Road Boards. In 1893 he took up land in the Waikawa district and has resided there ever since. Mrs Robson and a younger sister, also were passengers on the ship Wellington in 1878-79. She came from Perth. Scotland, being a daughter of Mr William Ritchie, and a cousin of Sir John McAllister and also of Sir Donald McAllister, principal of Glasgow University. Three of Mr and Mrs Robson's four sons fought overseas during the Great War. All were severely wounded. One son (Robert) has since died.