MOTUPIKO.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13412, 9 May 1912, Page 4 (Supplement)

MOTUPIKO.

GOLDEN WEDDING OF MB. AND

MRS. FRED. MEAD

(From "The Colonist," May. 1.)

On Monday last a very largo gathering of friends and relatives- assembled at Mr. W. Coleraan's! residence-,-'-'Tho. Laurels," Motupiko, for the purpose-pf-celebrating the golden wedding o.f .Mr. and Mrs. Fred. Mead, senr. A largo marque© had been erected, and about a hundred guests sat down to a sumptuous repast. The health of the old couple wa9 proposed by Mr Geo. Macmahon and drunk with the greatest enthusiasm ; several other toasts were also honoured. Among the many presents received was a pair of upnoistored easy chairs from Mrs. Mead's sister 3.

Mr.' Mead arrived in Nelson by the ship Emma Colvin in 1856; while "Mrs. Mead, who is a daughter of the.lato Mr W. Louden, came shortly after in the Gipsy. They both lived' at Foxhill for several years and wort) married there. They then came to Motupiko, or rather to where Motupiko is now situated. In tbooe-t|p,ys there were only three houses in the --Valley; and the journey from Belgrove in the bullock waggon took a whole day, and a long day at that. There was no road over Spoon-er's Range, and the bullocks, were taken along the spurs that looked the easiest; ami anyone who is familiar with the range will readily understand the enormous difficulties that had to be overcome. Even the present road is uncomfortably sleep, and it would' boa very dime nit'mat Ivy nowadays to persuade 'anybody to negotiate, the rough &purs* in a bullock waggon. On their arrival in the Y-sll^y tho first thing to be done was to erect a dwelling. This was built on the si to cf their present home. The timber was all cut by hand, Mr. Mead being an expert in the use of the pitsavv. Clearing was then made in the high fern, and tho. house was erected. After this, more land was cleared and the plough was brought into uso; bullocks being used to draw it. Splendid crops wfire obtained, and the_ land round about lias boon in cultivation over since.

Mrs. Mead posv^sses considerable skill as a nurse, and. as, till recently, tho nearest doctor wo.s cb Wake-field, her services have continually been requisitioned. Many tales aro told of the courageous way in which Mrs Mead ha,s in the middle of th/> night. lorded flooded rivers, and riddon manjy.'miles ©?er rough road 3in order to lend her Assistance at -a sick bedside. Even at tho present tim o her assistanco is often , sought after, and always freo-lv given. ' Mr. and Mrs Mead have both passed the allotted span, and aro .still hale and boarfcy, and-wo hope t3j»y will oolc-bratn \ jp:my moro anniversaries of thoir wedding day.