AFTER FIFTY YEARS

Southland Times, Issue 17304, 28 March 1913, Page 6

AFTER FIFTY YEARS

UR AND MRS iSCAND RETT’S GOLDEN WEDDING. A NOTABLE GATHERING, AN EVENING OP REMINISCENCE. In celebration of fifty years of mar* Had life Mr W. W. Scandrett (Mayor of Invercargill) and Mrs, Scandrett entertained about three hundred guests at a banquet in the Victoria Hall last evening. The hall was prettily ' decorated with greenery and pot plants, anil the four long tables which were arranged lengthwise down the hall were picturesquely' adorned' with' (Lowers. Proposing the toast of the Parliament of New Zealand, Mr W. Macalister (Crown Solicitor) prefaced his remarks by congratulating Mr and Mrs Scandrett on attaining their golden'wedding. He considered that be was quite safe when he said that, compared with other Parliaments of the world, their Parliament was one of 'which they might justly be proud. They had with them that night Mr Hanan, who had attained Cabinet rank. He did not, os they knew, keep it. long, hat it was'generally accepted that during the term he held the two very Important portfolios he made a very good beginning. (Hear, hear.) Mr Thimnon, too, was with them. He was recognised ns one of the orators of the Parliament of Nov Zealand, and was an Invercargill boy.

Mr Jt A. Hanan, M.P., said that he had thank Mr Macalister for his reference to Parliament, and for his reference to himself. Mr Macalister had referred to some recent events In politics. Any Impartial observer would recognise that their politics were in a confused and disordered state. (Cries of "No," and laughter.) Mr Hanan went on to refer to the need of parliamentary reform, saying that In other countries, as ■well as this, it was recognised that the present system was both clumsy and expensive. Men on both sides of politics were, he said, agreed on this point. He lelned with Mr Macalister in congratulating Mr and Mrs Scandrett. Mr J. C. Thomson, M.P.. expressed Me pleasure at being present and said that the celebration of a golden wedding was unfortunately a somewhat rare occurrence. They were few and far between, and certainly It spoke very highly fbr both Mr and Mjs Scandrett that after going through fifty years of the battle of life they saw them in health and strength presiding at that board. Referring to parliamentary reform, he said that the one crying need in this amd other countries was for reform In parliament, but parliament was, he said, the last body to think of applying reform to itself. Speaking in his representative capacity as member for Wallace, he wished to say that Mr Scandrett was just as well known in Wallace as be was in Invercargill, and he could ■ay that thousands of people echoed his sentiments when he spoke in eulogy of blm.

Mr Crulckshank. S.M., proposed the toast of “The Local Bodies.” and after congratulating the Mayor and the Mayoress, referred to the right of the British people to govern their own local ■flairs as a priceless heritage with which they were not likely to part. Messrs A. F. Hawke (Chairman of the B, and C.A. Board). T. Fleming (Town Council), and John Fisher (Chairman of the Southland Education Board) responded, each referring in glowing terms So the career of their host. At this stage Mr Scandrett said that there were several points which might he of interest to those present. The first of- these was that on January Ist, 1849, the ship Ajax arrived In Otago Harbour. Amongst the passengers was ■ young man, his wife, and a little girl •Who was four years old that day. That little girl was his wife. There were ■lso aboard the ship another young man and his wife, and he was of considerable Influence aboard the ship because onehalf of the-'Cargo belonged to him.” His widow was still a resident in Invercargill, and one of her daughters was'with them that evening. He had hoped her iOh ('Me, 0, 8, Longuot) would have been ■ble to propose the next toast, but in regretting his absence, he had written: “My mother also was delighted to receive your invitation, and joins in our congratulations and good wishes, but regrets that age prevents her frem being present. You will remember that Mrs Scandrett and my mother came to New Zealand In the same ship In 1848-49, Mrs Scandrett being then a girl.” Mr Scandrett went on to say that Mrs Longuet was. however, represented by her daughter, Mrs Thomas Buxton, of Makarewa. He (the speaker) arrived at Otago Heads on May sth, 1858, and Captain Driver, the pilot, came on board. ‘As those present doubtless knew, the Channel ran near the hill on the south clde of the entrance, and as the ship sailed Into the harbour under the guidance of the pilot those on board saw his wife and a young girl waving a welcome. That girl was with them in the person mt Mrs George Durry, the wife of an esteemed locomotive driver on the railways. There was another guest who was interesting to him, and she was the wife of a well-known public man, Cr. A. Bain. In 1859 he was for twelve months cn a sheep station in North Otago, and the manager and his wife were two of the kindest people he had ever known. Their first baby was born during his stay, and the mother ami daughter (Mrs Bain) were both present. Then there was Mr Robert Meek, of Fairfax, who worked and lived in the same hut with the speaker in 1861. Lastly, he walked tnto Invercargill on August I, 186L’, and In the following months Mr John Kingslapd, the founder of a well-known busJaess, arrived with others in a vessel from Melbourne. They had become acquainted, and bad been on friendly terms ever since their first meeting. Mr Klngslaml Was a valuable public man fifty years ■g p. and being fluent of speech and quick to form a reliable opinion, he .was always sought after if there were a public meeting or society to be formed. Ac such meetings the speaker was generally present, and while Mr Kiugslahd was made president or .chairman, he frequently became secretary. Mr John Klngsland. ex-Mayor, proposed the toast of Mr and Mrs Scandrett, and said that Mr Scandrett had always handled the matters lie hud taken UP with credit to himself and advantage to the town. Cr. Stead also spoke to the tooct. Cr. A. Bain said that lie had been as■ociated with their worthy Mayor for a good many years, and he was satisfied that if he could not do anyone a good turn he would never do a bad one. He liad the very pleasant duty to present to Vr and Mrs Scandrett. on behalf of the Town Council and Town Clerk, a small token of the high esteem in which he was held. Ho handed Mr Scandrett a sovereign case and Mrs Scandrett a gold watch. Mr J. E. Watson said that the citizens ■f Invercargill had determined that they <g>uld not let so unique an occasion pass without showing to Mr and Mrs .Scandrett the extent of the esteem in which they were held by the people of Invercargill. He thought that they had had «v?ry reaapn to be proud of the fact that after fifty years they were able to gather ■ueh a number of people, representative of 1 all sections of the community, who had come with the object of doing hon-

to tjiem- He referred to the varied V public services Mr Scandrett had rendered to the town in various capacities, and went on to say that there was one thing that had not been mentioned. That was that earlier in life Mr Scandrett had been an enthusiastic volunteer, and had attained the rank of major. It was his pleasant duty to present Mr and Mrs Scandrett with a solid sliver tea and coffee service and salver, and In order that they might have something to carry with them an album was being prepared which would contain the signatures of as many of Mr and Mrs Scandretfs friends as could be got together, and following address;—

Co W. B. Scandrett. ICsti-, Mayor, Invercargill. Dear Sir, —We have great pleasure on behalf and In the name of the Citizens of Invercargill in conveying to you the very sincere feeling of esteem and respect in which you are so universally held by them, and as we wish to put these feelings into a more durable shape we respectfully beg your acceptance of this address together with the accompanying testimonial consisting of a silver tf a and coffee service as a tangible expression of our esteem for you as a citizen and us an acknowledgment of the valuable public services that you have rendered to the people of this town. When we contrast the natural waste ®r barren wilderness which Invercargill presented Si years ago when you came 1 to this district, and the bright and fruitful pro neet it presents to-day—lts gres.: in all that spells moral, social, artd material advancements, we fwjiowflisa of gratitude we owe

to the'"old identities** and public spirited men like yourself, whose activities have been largely responsible for such a splendid record of achievement. Your exemplary, prominent and fruitful labours are to be found in the fields of religious, social and educational works and especially In the sphere of municipal activity. We regard your long connection with the Corporation ns Town Clerk(22»years), as Councillor and as Mayor during the past 20 years as a unique record of which you may be justly proud. And now Unit during your seventh term of office as Mayor you are commemorating the r.Otli anniversary of your marriage, we desire to offer you and Mrs Scandrett our hearty congratulations on the consummation of such an Interesting anniversary. We tender you our cordial good wishes and hope you both may be Spared for many years yet in the full oajoymont of health, happiness, and prosperity. We subscribe ourselves on behalf of the Inhabitants of Invercargill. Invercargill, 24th March, 1013. In responding. Mr Scandrett sincerely thanked all present on behalf of himself and his wife for the hearty reception they had given to the toast, to the pro,poser and the speakers they were deeply grateful for their kind words, as they were to the Council for their handsome presents, and the ladies and gentlemen present for their beautiful presentation. Hp would like to say that when they sent out their invitations the idea of a presentation never occurred to either Mrs Scandrett or. himself. They were most concerned that no old friend should be overlooked, but he was afraid that they had not fully achieved their object In that direction. Having lived so many years in the town they were known to so many friends. When they did send out Invitations they referred first to past mayors. They recognised that the citizens tiad been well served by the many able men who had filled the Mayoral office, and in fact lie thought that InvercargiK had been particularly fortunate in that respect. What struck him that day when he was thinking of their early life in the Dominion was the almost wonderful progress of the country. In 1858 he was In Oamaru. The evening he spent there the present White City contained only two people—a shepherd and himself, for Oamaru was then part of a sheep run. The home station was at Papakaio. near the Waitakl river. About midnight the sheep dogs barked, and the shepherd rose and opened the door. He looked outside and then called "Young fellow, jump up and make a fire, there are three of four horsemen here, and we will have to give them some supper,'’ They gave them supper. Those four horsemen were the late Mr J. T. Thomson, then chief surveyor of Otago, Mr W. H. Dansey. the owner of Otekalke station. Mr Reginald Julius, owner ,of Ruggedy Ridges station, and Hugh Reid, a younger brother of Donald Reid, of Dunedin. Mr Thomson stated that he had come to fix the site of the township of Oamaru. and the next morning he went with him. it might.therefore, be said that he was present at the birth of the "White City of North Otago. They were all acquainted with Dunedin. W here the telegraph office now' stood the tide regularly ebbed and flowed. The original First Church of Dunedin stood on the top of the hill one hundred feet above the floor of the present handsome church. The hill was removed and carried into the harbour, and its substance assisted in the reclamation of the land on which were now streets containing handsome warehouses. Coming south there were neither made roads nor bridges from Dunedin to Invercargill. They crossed the Taierl in a boat, and the Clutha and Mataiya by the same means. It was rather an interesting fact that a young fellow, who was then fifteen years of age assisted his father, the late Mr MacGibbon. to bring him (the speaker) across the Mataura. There was another interesting fact, and it was that that lad Thomas MacGlbbon had been a valuable member of most of the public bodies of the district, and was with them that evening.

Coming still further south it was almost impossible to realise to-day the progress of Invercargill. The business of the town when he arrived was done in Tay street. There was a wooden store at the corner jvhere the Bank of New South Wales now stood, and there was a s'ix-roomed cottage near-by which was known as the Albion Hotel. Now they had nearly all the conveniences of a modern city with electric trams and light, and the electric light as a alternative to gas light. They had a town that would be a flourishing city before many who were present had reached old age. “Ladies and Gentlemen.” Mr Scandrett concluded, "We live in a favoured land. Providence has indeed been kind to us. All we have to do is our little part to well as we can. lit order to make this country a great little country.” Songs and elocutionary numbers were contributed during the evening by the following:—Mesdames E. E. Boss, .1. A. Hanan, W. F. Scandrett. Miss Crofts and Messrs J. R. Webb. Frank Graham. T. Brown, A. S. Cookson, and C, Coaling, and the gathering broke up at 11.30 after "Auld Lang Syne” and the National Anthem had been sung.