GOLDEN WEDDING.
MIL AND MRSi> CHAS. IL GEATIL > RESPECTED PAEROA RESIDENTS. The, golden wedding of two wellknown and highly respected residents of Paeroa, Mr and Mrs Charles Barrett Gentil “Timandra,” Waihi Road, was celebrated on Saturday. Throughout the day the couple were the recipients. of numerous telegrams from various parts of the Dominion, and also cablegrams from Australia, congratulating them and wishing them health and happiness. Mr Gentil, who was born at Geelong, Victoria, on November 21, 1856, married Annie Elizabeth, eldest daughter of the late Mr W. R. Smith, building surveyor, of Melbourne, at Chirst Church, Warkworth, on February J.l, 1878, the Rev. H. D. D. Sparling being the officiating minister. At that time Mr Gentil was postmaster at Waiwera, and was afterwards, transferred to Alexandra, now known, as Pfrongia. Later Mr Gentil was transferred to Auckland, where, in 1883, he resigned from the service. In 1885 he again entered the department and was stationed at Thames, and after a further four years’ service he resigned in order to follow electrical engineering, and was. Tor the following four years electrician to the Waitekauri Extended Gold Mining Co., Ltd., at Maratoto. He was with that company until it went into liquidation, and then removed to Paeroa, where for the past 24% years he has been an officialof the lOihinemuri County Council, by which he is highly respected and still holds several important positions.
There are three sons, three daughters, and eight grandchildren. The sons are Messrs Charles H. Gentil, engineer, Auckland ; F. J. Gentil, Auckland Gas Co., Ltd.; and! W. B. Gentil, Lands Department, Brisbane, Queensland. The ‘ daughters are Mesdames H. Phillips, Melbourne, Victoria ; G. Smith, Auckland; and Miss E. C. B. Gentil, Auckland; Mr W. B. Gentil served with the Australian Imperial Forces during the war, and saw considerable service with the tropical troops in New' Guinea and Nauru Island. Two daughters, two sonis, .and four grandchildren were present at the reception tendered to Mr and Mrs Gentil at their residence on Saturday.
TROUBLE WITH THE MAORIS. In the course of Ills 61 years’ residence in New Zealand Mr Gentil has had many varied and iriteresting experiences, not least of which were the stirring times that occurred between Pakeha and Maori in the early days. During the year 1879-BQ, when at Alexandra there was, great unrest among the Natives until the arrival at Alexandra, of Sir George Grey, Prime Minister, and Mr Joihp Sheehan, then Native Minister. At that time the settlement °f Alexandra was in a panic, when Major Mair, Government Native Agent, took a part in dispelling the unrest and restoring peace. Quoting from the N.Z. Herald, dated June 9, 1881, it is stated: “Tawhiao and party stayed here (Alexandra) last night as the guests of Major Mair. The main body were, accommodated at the public hall. During the evening Tawhiao visited the store and houses at the township and made a most favourable impression by his genial and gentle mannersMr C. B. Gentil, telegraphist and postmaster, communicated by telephone' with Kirikihi. Tawhiao and Rewi, the latter being- at Kihikihi, held a conversaton with each other; also Tupotahi and others. His Majesty came into the office and approved of the telegram which was despatched to the “Herald.” By the courtesy of Mr Gentil, the officer in charge, he was allowed tp see the transmission, Major ,Mair interpreting. Afterwards; the Maoris gave a war-dance in full costume (none at all).” The interpreted telephone conversation referred to was the end of the strife, and at a word of command frohn'the chief five hundred armed Maoris laid down their weapons in the street and there was no further serious trouble. Among the many curios anld relics which Mr Gentil has acquired are the two original telephones used on that memorable occasion. These telephones, which are made of wood, were originally the means- of telephonic communication between Warkworth and Waiwera early in 1878. At that time telephones were few and far between, and visitors to Waiwera used to visit the post office purposely to hear the. instruments in operation.
Mr Gentil came to New Zealand when ten years of age with .his; mother in the steamer Claud Hamilton, and landed at Onehunga. Mr Gentil’s father, who was a marinte captain, left the sea in 1850 and joined the staff of the Union Bank of Australia. Later he transferred to the Bank of Australasia, and when) the Bank of New Zealand was founded competent bank clerks were at a premium, and Mr Genitil applied for and was given a position in Auckland. He was in New Zealand some time, and then Mrs Gentil and family joined .him. After 29 years’- service with the Bank of New Zealand the late Mr Gentil retired from the managership of the Coromandel bijanich. During Saturday Mr and Mrl Gentil. were visited by a number oi their old friends in Paeroa and district, and the general wish was expressed that they would long be spared to enjoy a •happy eventide.
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Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5238, 13 February 1928, Page 2
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833GOLDEN WEDDING. Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5238, 13 February 1928, Page 2
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