GOLDEN WEDDING.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 August 1915, Page 7

GOLDEN WEDDING.

MR, AND MRS. JOIL\ T ANDREWS. iYestea'dtty was a happy day in the lii'e of Mr. and Mrs. John Andrews, of Waitara, for it was their golden wedding day, and friends from all parts of Taranaki gathered at the Clifton Hall, Waitara, to congratulate Mr. and Mrs. Andrews, and to offer their best wishes to these early settlers for a continuance of the good 'health and pleasant conditions w<hicih were filling with happiness the peaceful years of a well-fought strenuous life. Mr. and Mrs. Andrews provide a link with the early days in Tanuuuki; they know the province when it was raw, and when everyone's life was that af a pioneer; and now, after their task has been done, they were proud yesterday to welcome old friends of the early days, and to see around fcheni all their family of one son and nine daughters, and tw.enty-two healthy grandchildren. It-was for. Mr. and Mrs. Andrews a proud moment in a noble life.

The parents of Sir. John Andrcws^Mt. and Mrs. S. Andrews—arrived at N«w Plymouth in ISJ2 ) and the same year Mr. John Andrews \yas born at Now Plymouth, so that he is now 73 years old. Mr. Andrews was one of the first white children bom in Taranaki. It was after 1842 that Taranaki passed through some of the moat critical periods in its history, and it fell to Mr. Andrews to experience all the trials and troubles of the fifties. When the difficulties, with the Maoris were settled, Mr. Andrews commenced farming in the Hnirangi district, where he lias l>een a well-known settler for many years past. Some years ago Mr. Andrews gave up active life on the land and took up his residence on the outskirts of Waitara, where he now resides. Mrs. Andrews was a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. C. M. Young, who arrived in Canterbury from Scotland in 1852. Mrs. Andrews was born near Aberdeen, in f Hand, and was five years old when < arrived in New Zealand with iher parents, being now 08 years old. Mr. and Mrs. Andrews' family of one son and nine daughters are ail settled in Taranaki. They are: Mr. F. Y. Andrews (Purangi), Mrs. G. S. Giddy (Kaimata), Mrs. J. W. Crowe (Stratford), Mrs. H. J. Alley (Geraldine), Mrs. W. A. Lind (Okato), Mrs. R. F. Langnun .(Waitara), Mrs. J..L. Power (Okato), Miss Andrews andt : Miss A. Andrews (Okato), and Miss/fcE. Andrews (New Plymouth).

There was a large-gathering of settlers and friends yesterday, and-/a pleasant afternoon was spent. After refreshments were partaken of by'"the gathering, the health of Mr. and Mrs. Andrews was toasted by Mr. R. Wells. In a short spcocili Mr. Wells referred to the pleasure all felt at meeting Mr. and Mrs. Andrews and of congratulating them on celebrating their" golden wedding day. Such gatherings, ho said, gave a great deal of pleasure to the old folk of the district, and he hoped t'liat all would continue to enjoy good health, which would enabla them to meet again in future yeairs. In replying, Mr. Andrews expressed the liappincsa he and Mrs. Andrews experienced in meeting so many old friends again. The day was a notable one in their lives. He" was glad to say that both Mrs. Andrews and Jiirnsclf continued to enjoy good health, and they hoped to have many such gatherings an years to come. Mr. Andrews concluded with a few remarks reminiscent of the early days in the district. "The" Army and Navy" was 'proposed by Mr. Dunlop, and responded to by Mr. S. Kimckcy, while the toast of ''Our Parents" was given by Mr. li. Wells and responded to by Mr. fl. V. Tate. During the afternoon songs were given bv Miss Wells, Mrs. Murphy, and Mr. G. Giddy, the gathering sing the National Anthem,' and the proceedings were brought to an end with "Auld Lang Syne."