WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

Taranaki Daily News, 5 August 1930, Page 9

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

EARLY TARANAKI RESIDENTS. SERVICES TO THE PROVINCE. Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Skinner, New Plymouth, have reached their golden wedding day to-day. Mr. Skinner, who was born in New Plymouth, was the 'son of Mr. T. K. Skinner, originally M Devon. Mrs. Skinner was the daughter of William Devenish of Dorset. Both Mr. and Mrs. Skinner are descendants of founders of the New Plymouth settle • inent. As the historian of the province, an Anglican Church worker, a Polynesian authority and a noted surveyor, Mr. Skinner is remarkably widely known. He joined the service of the Taranaki Provincial Government as a cadet in the Lands and Survey oilice in 1872. Four years later he was appointed assistant surveyor on the field staff. In 1905 he was made chief draughtsman. Mr. Skinner was appointed Commissioner of Crown Lands and Chief Surveyor of Marlborough, Hawke’s Bay and Canterbury from 1911 to 1919. He was elected to the Boundaries Commission in 1918 and retired from the service in 1919 after 4 7 years’ service. He has held import?,!’! positions in many spheres of public work. He is a member of the diocesan synod and the general synod, a member of the North Egmont Park Committee and the New Plymouth public library. The New Plymouth museum owes a great deal to his care and research. In research work into the early history of Taranaki Mr. Skinner is preeminent, being a frequent writer on colonial history and the Maori wars, including the work “Taranaki 80 Years Ago.” He has been honorary secretary to the Polynesian Society and for a time was joint editor' of the journal, to which he often contributed.