FIFTY YEARS MARRIED

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 173, 12 October 1927, Page 11

FIFTY YEARS MARRIED

MR. AND MRS. W. B. LEYLAND NAVAL VETERANS’ TRIBUTE Royal Naval and marine veterans of Auckland honoured Mr. W. B. Leyland, the we 111 known timber merchant to-day, on the occasion of his golden wedding. Mr. arid Mrs. Leyland have always extended their hospitality to the veterans on Trafalgar Day, October 21. Mr. Leyland is also responsible for hoisting Nelson’s famous message on that day from the city flagstaff, which, incidentally, he was instrumental in having erected. Mr. and Mrs. Leyland were married at Wigan, half a century ago. Of their family of five sons and an equal number of daughters, eight are now living. There are 40 descendants of the union. One son was present at the historic landing at Gallipoli. Mr. Leyland has served as a member of the Auckland Harbour Board. He was president of the National Defence League from its inception, and is a member of the executive of the Patriotic and War Relief Association. A successful man of business, Mr. Leyland has been responsible, with Mr. J. J. O’Brien, who retired in 1912, in establishing the well-known business of Leyland-O’Brien, Ltd. An uncle of Mrs. Leyland, the Rev. Nathaniel Turner, landed at the Bay of Islands in 1823 with the Rev. John Hobbs, to establish the Wesleyan Mission to the Maoris. Mr. and Mrs. Leyland arrived in New Zealand with a young baby and a capital of less than £3. Work was soon obtained by the energetic young sailor on arrival at Auckland, however, and he has taken a prominent part in all matters of interest to the city and district ever since.