GOLDEN WEDDING.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20278, 12 April 1934, Page 6

GOLDEN WEDDING.

North Search Pioneers Congratulated. A pleasant social gathering was held at the conclusion of the meeting of the North Beach Progress League, when members took the opportunity to honour two pioneers of the district, Mr and Mrs J. 11. Coates, who this week celebrated their golden wedding. Mr and Mrs Coates are both life members of the League. The president (Mr A. Peverill) mentioned that Mr and Mrs Coates were the first settlers at North Beach, having built the first house in the district over thirty-five years ago. On behalf of the league he extended congratulations to them on reaching their golden wedding anniversary, and wished them both many more years of happiness. A bouquet was presented to Mrs Coates. Mesdames W. E. Leverett, N. M’Gillivray and A. Noonan, Messrs T. E. Thomson, F. Norrie, S. Gabb, G. E. Franklin, R. I. Lamb and F. J. L. Scott, also referred to the value of Mr Coates’s pioneering work for the district. Mr Coates in responding spoke of the early days in North Beach. He came to New Zealand in the ship St Leonards, in 1881. Three years later he married Miss M. A. Robbie, at Knox Church, Bealey Avenue, the late Dr Erwin officiating. Mr Coates took an active part in the formation of tne North Beach Burgesses Association and was present at its first meeting in May, 1911. .