Newspaper Article 1949 – Golden Wedding of Members of HB Pioneer Families

Golden Wedding of Members of H.B. Pioneer Families

The golden wedding of members of two respected Hawke’s Bay pioneering families was celebrated last week-end. Sunday, February 27, marked the fiftieth year of the marriage and long residence in the district of Mr. and Mrs. Hector Smith, “Ormlie,” Korokipo, the ceremony having been performed in St Matthew’s Church, Hastings, by Archdeacon Samuel Williams, assisted by the Rev. John Hobbs.

A happy reunion of the family and friends of Mr. and Mrs. Hector Smith, numbering approximately 150, was held in the picturesque gardens of their home, “Ormlie”, on Saturday. Golden crocus and maidenhair fern decorated the marquee, and an appropriate feature was the two-tier cake bearing the gold initials and date of the wedding.

The 50 years of happiness and good example to their family of the guests-of-honour was eulogised by Mr W. G. Wood, Napier. He referred to the proud pioneering record of both families, the bridegroom’s father, the late Mr. Hector William Smith, of Olrig, having arrived in New Zealand in 1858 by the 800-ton vessel “Mary Ann”, and the bride’s father, the late Mr William Nelson, Waikoko, having journeyed from the Homeland about 1862.

Mr. W. L. Nelson, son-in-law, proposed the health of the bride and bridegroom, to which the latter responded.

Mrs. Hector Smith then proposed the health of her nephew, Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Smith on the occasion of their silver wedding anniversary which fell on the same day.