DIAMOND WEDDING

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23446, 29 September 1941, Page 2

DIAMOND WEDDING

MR AND MRS W. C. GEE Married at St. Luke’s Church by the Rev. E A. Lingard 60 years ago, Mr and Mrs W- C. Gee yesterday celetheir diamond wedding at their home in Gloucester street with a gathering of friends and members of the family. Both Mr and Mrs Gee are children of pioneer families of Canterbury, and have lived the greater part of their lives in Christchurch, seeing over the years many changes in the life and habits of the city which has grown from the swamp they can well remember. Eighty-three years ago last month, Mr Gee was born at Victoria square in his father’s shop, that building now being replaced by the Market Hotel. Later in his . life, with his father, he started the industry of Venetian blind making in Christchurch, and before tlipy were bought out by a large drapery and general furnishings company they were working a factory with special machinery imported from overseas. Mr Gee well remembers his father taking him, with his other brothers and sisters, on the first passenger trip through the Lyttelton tunnel, in those days so new to the people of Christchurch. Both Mr and Mrs Gee enjoy good health, and Mr Gee rises regularly at 6.15 each morning, still doing all the work of his large and well-kept garden. Mrs Gee' in June last celebrated her eighty-first birthday. There are six children of the marriage. all of whom are living in Christchurch. and there are two granddaughters and one great-grandson. WOMEN’S TEMPERANCE UNION CHRISTCHURCH BRANCH franchise Day was observed at a repent meeting of the Christchurch branch of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union. Miss C. Hendetson presided and welcomed Mrs C. W. Barfejl, president of the North Canterbury District Committee, and delegates from other unions. Archdeacon Petrie gave an address on “The Bible flnd Biblical Archaeology.” Letters of thanks for sympathy were read from the relatives of the late Mrs W R. Don and of Mr M. J. Miller. A letter of sympathy was sent to Mrs Landery. Mrs C. W. Barrel! gave a talk on the recent district convention held at Timaru. . ... Many useful gifts of children s clothing. and a quilt were handed in lor the New Zealand Lady Galway Guild It was announced that delegates would make their reports of the district convention at the next meetingNORTH BRIGHTON BRANCH Mrs A, Noonan presided at the monthly meeting of the North Brighton branch of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, in the absence o£ the president, Mrs D. Goldman, who was away at the Canterbury provincial convention. Mrs Compton reported that a number of knitted comforts for soldiers had been passed on to the patriotic organisations, and Mesdames Pcpperell and Aston reported having visited patients at the Mental Hospital, WOMEN’S DIVISION OF FARMERS’ UNION DIAMOND HARBOIIK-PUBAU Mrs J. Hunter welcomed members to the monthly meeting of the Diamond Harbour-Purau branch of the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union held at Godley House. Mrs Hunter gave a detailed report of the conference held recently, and an appeal for the lepers was supported. Hostesses were Mesdames Miller, Candy and Wilson. Results of the competitions were as follows:—Best blooip, Mrs D. Manson 1; Miss H. Hunter 2, Mrs H. Agar and G. Wilson (equal) 3; arrangement of flowers, Mrs '<s. Wilson 1, Mrs D. Maftspn'2, Mfs'H. A|at' 3; hedsbejef Mrf U Munson; monthly cup.' Mrs I?. Manson.’ ' ' ’