GOLDEN WEDDING

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 544, 29 June 1920, Page 3

GOLDEN WEDDING

A TUAKAU COUPLE.

MR. AND MRS. GEO. A. TAPPER.

INTERESTING REMINISCENCES

Mr. and Mrs. George A. Tapper, of Tuakau, Waikatn, celebrated thei*. ■> golden wedding on Sunday list* Jufo 27. Their wedding took Michael's Church, Helgravia, London, on June 27, 1870. Mrs. Tapper was the second daughter of Captain Purcell, of Bristol, England. Mr. Tappet began his business career at the early age of twelve, when, having lost his father, his mother apprenticed him to a firm of booksellers and stationirr at Weston Super Mare. Several years afterwards he went to lxmdon to take up a position with Messrs. Simpkin, Marshall and Co., of Stationer's Hall Caprt, and later entered into business for himself in Morton Street, near St. George's Square. In > those days ValentJlnes were much in use. Mr. Tapper can recall how the , present King George with (he Duke l of Clarence and their sisters often used to drive up to his shop to pur- \ chase their Valentines. In 1874 Mr. 1 and Mrs. Tapper came to New Zea- ' land in the Shaw Savill Company's clipper-ship the May Queen, making a good passage of 84 days. Some years afterwards the May Queen became a total wreck in the Lyttelton harbour. Mr. Tapper was many years engaged in the timber business in Invercargill and Dunedin. There are five sons and one daughter, all set-, tied in the Dominion; also a total of 2b grandchildren. Despite his seventy-nine years Mr. Tapper is still an enthusiastic gardener. Always a keen sportsman he is still a familiar figure on the lawns at Ellerslie and Riccarton. Mrs. Tapper is in her seventy-seventh year, but lately has not enjoyed the best of health.