GOLDEN WEDDING

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 306, 28 December 1939, Page 4

GOLDEN WEDDING

Stevenson—Grant COLOURFUL CEREMONY ON CHRISTMAS DAY A gathering representative of all branches of the family was held on Christmas Day at the home of Mr. and Mrs. A. F. Stevenson, Gladstone Street, Woodville, to celebrate their golden wedding. Mr. and Mrs. Stevenson were married at Gladstone, Wairarapa, on Christmas Day, 1889, residing there for fivo years, Mr. Stevenson being a blacksmith by trade. Mrs. Stevenson (nee Jeannie Grunt) is the daughter of one of tho earliest pioneering families in tho district, her parents coming to New Zealand in 1852. Mr. Stevenson is also of Scottish descent. After carrying on farming in Tawataia (Alfredton), Waikanae and Kaitawa, they retired to live in Foxton and finally in Woodville. The golden wedding breakfast was held at tho residence, and many gifts were received by tho bride and bridegroom. Present at the breakfast was the best man at the original ceremony, Mr. B. S. Grant, of Dannevirke, brother of the bride. The two-tiered cake which held pride of place on the table was the gift of Mrs. B. S. Grant. The tables were decorated with vases of gold flowers and a large gold boll hung over the guests of honour. A posy of gold roses and maidenhair fern was presented to Mrs. Stevenson by her youngest granddaughter, little Jennifer Stevenson, with tho best wishes of the grandchildren for many more years of health and prosperity. Toasts to the King, the bride and bridegroom, the best man, the eldest daughter (Miss Margaret Stevenson) and the grandchildren were honoured, and many congratulatory messages from various parts of the North Island were read. Mr. and Mrs. A. F. Stevenson’s family consists of two daughters, Misses Margaret and Jean Stevenson (Woodville), and seven sons, William (Stratford), Murray (Waione), Thomas (Herbertville), Biggary (Waihoki), Robert and John, the latter two having made the supremo sacrifice in the Great War. There are also 15 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Guests at the ceremony on Monday were Rev. and Mrs. W. H. Nicholas (Woodville), Mr. and Mrs. B. S. Grant and Miss Grant (Dannevirke), Mr. and Mrs. W. Stevenson, Misses Margaret, Irene, Betty and Dawn Stevenson (Stratford), Mrs. Goodwin and infant daughter Pamela (Taumarunui), Mr. and Mrs. M. Stevenson, Master Bob and Miss June Stevenson (Waione), Mr. T. Stevenson (Herbertville), Mr. and Mrs! J. Stevenson and Miss Heather Stevenson (Waipukurau), Mr. and Mrs. B. Stevenson and Master Graham Stevenson, Misses Hazel and Jennifer Stevenson (Waihoki) and Mr. R. Woods (Wellington).