GOLDEN WEDDING CELEBRATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24413, 26 September 1940, Page 10

GOLDEN WEDDING CELEBRATION

MR AND MRS T. M. GILLIES The friends throughout New Zealand of Mr and Mrs Thomas M. Gillies, of 44 Canongate, well-known and highlyesteemed residents of Dunedin foi many years, will join in congratulating them on the occasion of their golden wedding, which was celebrated on Tuesday. They were married by the Rev Dr Stuart in Knox Church, Dunedin, on September 24, 1890. Mrs Gillies (Miss Octavia Yulu Burgess) was born in Kent, England, 72 years ago, and Mr Gillies in Glasgow, Scotland, 76 years ago, both arriving in Dunedin by the ship Auckland on December 24, 1879 Mr Gillies was in Invercargill for some time, and arrived back in Dunedin in 1881, entering the engineering trade with Mr R. Peters, who carried on business in Cargill road. Later, he was in charge of the engineering department of Messrs Anderson and Morrison. in Moray place, after which he entered business on his own account, joining with Mr John McGregor to form the Otago Foundry, with which he was associated for 40 years. Outside of his long business association in the city, Mr Gillies has been interested always in all branches of sport. He was one of the early members of the Caversham Football Club which amalgamated with the Pacific Football Club in 1899 to form the present Southern Club. He was a foundation member of the Otago Boxing Association, was president for a term, and in recognition of his services to

the sport was honoured by being made a life-member. He has been an active member of the Caledonian Society for nearly 40 years, and has held office as president of that organisation. He has also been president of the Otago Chess Club and of the Otago Bowling Club, being secretary of the latter club for 10 years. He has been very active in the Masonic Order, havine occupied the highest offices it can offer. During the last war Mrs Gillies was very closely associated with women’s patriotic work, and she was also a member of St. Paul’s Cathedral Guild for many years. The celebrations on Tuesday night were held in the Crawford Lounge, when about 130 relatives and friends were present at a dinner and dance, the guests being received by Mr and Mrs Gillies. Congratulatory messages were forwarded from various parts of New Zealand and from as far afield as Sydney. Dean Cruickshank presided, and an appropriate toast l/st was honoured. Among the guests were Mrs John Watson (a sister of the bride), of Invercargill, who was a flower girl at the wedding, and Mr T. E. K. Burgess (brother of the bride), who was a groomsman. Mrs D. Mitchell (a sister of Mrs Gillies), who celebrated her golden wedding last year, was present, and but for illness. Mrs C. Foster (Wellington), who is another sister, and also celebrated her golden wedding last year, would have been present Mr and Mrs T. M. Gillies have one daughter, Jessie, wife of Mr G. E. Warnock, of Kingston. Mr and Mrs Warnock, and their daughter Bernadette were among the guests at Tuesday’s celebration.