A PIONEER

Evening Star, Issue 19782, 4 February 1928, Page 17

A PIONEER

INTERESTING EARLY EXPERIENCES * [Special to the ' Stab.’] AUCKLAND, February 3. After fifty years of married life, Mr and Mrs Arthur Stcdman, of Alfred street, Auckland, celebrated their golden wedding on Wednesday._ Mr Steelman, who was born in 1853, isono of the pioneers of New Zealand, hav-

ing arrived in Auckland with his father, tlie late D - Stcdman, of London, in the ship Frenchman in ISGO. Dr Stedman’s family lived in Auckland for some time in a small house below Albert Park. Leaving for the south in a schooner of 25 tons, the family arrived at Sumner after a month at sea, and went up the Avon River to the heart of Christchurch, where Dr Stcdman was the first London medical practitioner to settle. During the voyage down the coast supplies of food became short, and at Napier Dr Stedraau was forced to go ashore and shoot a sheep. Mr Stedman was one of the first pupils of Christ’s College, and he joined the Bank of New South Wales on leaving school. Ho was present at the laying of the foundation stone of Christchurch Cathedral. After being transferred to Wanganui, Mr Stedman married Miss Anna Lomax, a step-daughter of the late Hon. R, Pharazyn, M.L.C. While in Wanganui he was instrumental in starting Rugby football, and was also a promoter of rowing. After ’icing successively branch _ manager in Greymouth, Nelson, Timaru, Wanganui, and Napier, Mr Stedman returned as manager to Christchurch, where ho retired after fifty-one years’ service. Mr and Mrs Stedman came to live in Auckland eight years ago. During the war Mr Stedman took up patriotic work, being treasurer of the Canterbury Patriotic Fund. Ho has been a prominent supporter of Rugby football and rowing, and is also a keen bowler, having been president of the Bluff Hill Club, Napier, and Hagley Park, Christchurch. He was for fifty years an active churchman. There are four sons—Mr A. L. Stedman, of Auckland; Mr Nelson Stedman, of Auckland; Mr Gerald Stedman, of Hawera; and -Mr Ralph Stedman, of Nelson.