GOLDEN WEDDING

Southland Times, Issue 22210, 30 December 1933, Page 6

GOLDEN WEDDING

NOTABLE EVENT

MR AND MRS GEORGE

SKERRETT

lifetime in southland

Yesterday was a notable milestone in the life of Mr and Mrs George Skerrett, well-known residents of Motu Rimu, Awarua Plains, for it marked the fiftieth year of their married life. Mr Skerrett is aged 72 years, and Mrs Skerrett 68, and they have resided in Southland during the whole of their lives. , Although the occasion was not celebrated by an official function, a budget of letters and congratulatory telegrams was received during the day, while an attractive wedding cake, decorated with gold horseshoes and bells, was received from Mr Skerrett’s sister-in-law, Mrs W. West, of Wellington. For various reasons members of Mr Skerret’s family, apart from grandchildren and two daughters-in-law, were unable to attend at his home yesterday, but. it is expected that the event will be suitably celebrated on a future occasion.

Mr Skerrett has been farming at Motu Rimu for 1a years and previously he lived at Bluff for 30 years. In the early eighties he followed the sawmilling industry in the employ of McCallum and Company, Stewart Island. Later he worked with John Murdoch and Company, also of Stewart Island, and still later he joined the staff cf the New Zealand Pine Company, Colac Bay. Mr Skerrett then took up a wood and coal carrier’s business at Bluff, where he remained until the close of the Great War. He went to Motu Rimu on the day upon which peace was declared.

Well-known for the interest he has taken in the welfare of the Maori race generally, Mr Skerrett has been particularly successful in his efforts towards having certain restrictions removed from the native lands in the Forest Hill district. Through his representations the natives were given the right to sell the lands and dispose of the timber royalties, this being the means of hundreds of pounds coming to the natives and contributing to the general welfare of the province. Mr Skerrett also successfully appealed to Parliament to have corrected an injustice whereby many of the Maoris were unable to take part in the mutton-birding industry. In addition he was a representative on the Repatriation Board at Invercargill, receiving a testimonial which showed that his work was fully appreciated. The latest development has been his appointment by the Government to take a seat on an advisory committee, of which he has been elected chairman, in connection with the native hostels at Bluff. He acted as native representative at the welcome which was extended to their Royal Highnesses, the Duke and Duchess of York, at Rotorua, in 1927. For the past 'hree years Mr Skerrett has acted as a Justice of the Peace.

The other principal in the golden jubilee, Mrs Skerrett, was Miss H. West before her marriage, a daughter of the late Mr Harry West, a wellknown pioneer of Stewart Island in the early days. She is well-known for her genial nature and generous acts, which have won her many friends. Mr and Mrs Skerrett have raised a large family of six boys and four girls, the first of whom was born in 1884. There are 24 grandchildren. Many members of the family have achieved distinction in various fields of endeavour. For instance, one of the daughters, Mrs W. Thornton, is now famed in London for her talent on the concert platform. She has appeared in all the principal theatres throughout the Empire, and in the Royal Albert Hall. Two other daughters, Mrs W. Fletcher and Mrs P. C. Church, reside in Wellington. Of the two sons Cyril and Jack, who are employed by the Railway Department in Dunedin, Jack is the brilliant professional runner. He has won 25 sheffields, together with innumerable other running events, his prize money totalling over £4OO. Mr George Skerrett, jun., is farming at Pahia, while Mr C. Skerrett is residing in Invercargill. The rest of the family are now deceased.

Both Mr and Mrs Skerrett carry their years much better than many people 20 years younger. They are renowned for their hospitality, their house is always open, and the big, oldfashioned fireplace in the sitting-room should crackle with blazing logs and throw out a cheery glow upon recounters of reminiscences for many years to come.