Women's Institute Honours Fellow Member

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 77, 2 April 1937, Page 10

Women's Institute Honours Fellow Member

MR. AND MRS. R. DAFTER’S GOLDEN WEDDING

The popularity and esteem in which Mr. and Mrs. It. Daftcr are held was evidenced on Wednesday evening, when members of the Itongotea Women's Institute gathered to celebrate the golden wedding of this respected and happy couple. The Coronation Hall was used for the reception and was barely large enough to hold the guests of honour, their relations and friends, also the Institute members and their husbands and brothers. Decorated with lemon, orange and gold streamers, woven latticewise across the ceiling, the hall looked very gay. The tables were adorned with crystal vases of flowers in shades of gold and orange, and at the top of the hall carpets and 'easy chairs made an admirable reception room. On their arrival at the hall Mr. and Mrs. Daftcr were met by the president of the Institute, Mrs. Caverhill, who presented Mrs. Dafter with a posy in autumn shades, while Mrs. W. N. Churchill placed a white buttonhole in Mr. Dafter’s lapel. After the Loyal Toast had been honoured the president extended a welcome to the visitors, friends and relations of the guests of honour, many of whom had come a distance to attend the evening, and also to the gentlemen present. They were gathered to do honour to Mr. and Mrs. Dafter on the fiftieth anniversary of their wedding, which was really a unique occasion, she said, very few being privileged to celebrate their golden wedding. Mrs. Dafter was one of the most esteemed members of the institute, and it was a privilege and honour to give her and Mr. Dafter a remembrance of their occasion. Mr. and Mrs. Daftcr were pioneers of the district and all members of the institute were happy ta have the opportunity of arranging the evening. It was well-known that Mr. Dafter took a keen interest in the work of the institute, and as a tangible memento of the occasion Mrs. Caverhill was happy to present Mrs. Dafter with a silver institute spoon. Mrs. Dafter, accepting the gift, said it was not usual for brides to speak, but she must thank tho women of the institute. Mr. Dafter, amid cheers, thanked all for the reeep tion which gave him great pleasure. He remarked that they went to their wedding in a wagonette and had to ford a river, but the wedding went off well, Mr. Croucher taking an active part. And Mrs. Daftcr had been a splendid wife. (Cheers.) A pianoforte solo was pleasingly rendered by Miss M. Will. Proposing the toast of the bride and groom, Mr. W. Croucher, Palmerston North, said he felt a great compliment had been paid him in being asked to perform this duty. Nothing was more significant of the popularity of the couple than the work of tho women's institute in combining to honour a fellow member and resident of the district, and nothing would bo equal to the testimony of tho evening’s gathering of the popularity of this couple. Mr. and Mrs. Dafter were to bo congratulated on having lived fifty years in the Manawatu County. Keference had been made to the time they had been in the district. To the majority of those present, few could go back in memory to the time when Mr. Dafter came to the Manawatu and to the time when he and Mrs. Dafter were married Mr. Dafter had been an active member of the community before Rongotea was ever populated. In all the activities and struggles of those days the most responsible man was Mr. Dafter, in so much as in thoso days Rongotea was an isolated spot. Sanson was the shopping centre and there were no roads. Mr. Dafter was storekeeping and it was his duty every Tuesday to deliver the groceries to Rongotea, an eagerly look-ed-for event, since it was the only delivery of goods in the week. The cart, bright red with yellow wheels when it left Sanson, was generally no colour when it arrived back. A good many residents of Rongotea to-day had had Mrs. Daftcr very early in life, as she had frequently attended them on their entry into this world. After fifty years of married life Mr. Daftcr was still able to make a joke and was never known to growl, which proved that he had a wonderful wife. In latter years he had been sorely afflicted by the loss of his sight but he had borne this with the utmost fortitude, and was one of the best informed men on present-day affairs in Rongotea. They could bo regarded as amongst the richest in community as they have thoso thing 3 most to bo desired, a happy married life, children whoso lives are a credit to their upbringing, grandchildren to carry on a good name and now this demonstration of friendship and goodwill, a token of tho highest accomplishment in life. Recalling the wedding celebrations of fifty years ago, Mr. Croueher said it was a great function. The young couplo were rather late arriving, but when they did arrive they received a great welcome, even the drum and fife band being there to greet them. On behalf of all friends, absent and present, it was a great privilege to propose the health of tho bride and bridegroom and all joined in conveying the heartiest congratulations on attaining the fiftieth anniversary of their wedding and in wishing them continued happiness and prosperity. During the cutting of the handsome bridal cake, made and decorated by Mrs. A. J. Will, soprano solos were rendered by Mrs. R. Aiid. Mr. J. Dafter replied briefly on behalf of his parents and thanked all present. Congratulatory telegrams from all over New Zealand were read by the secretary of the women’s institute, Mrs. T. Collin, who also read apologies for absence from Mr. and Mrs. W. Bayliss, Mr. and Mrs. W. Pearce, Sanson, Miss M. Grant, Palmerston North, and Mr. J. J. Cox. Mr. F. Brady, Wellington, a cousin of the bride, sang a plantation song, accompanying himself on the steel guitar, this being greatly enjoyed. A humorous song by Mr. W. H. Ourchill, was also keenly appreciated. Referring to earlier times, Mr. F. Brady recalled the school days of Mrs. Dafter, mentioning that other residents of Rongotea had tended school with her in the old

barracks built by Major Edwards at Pahautanui and told some amusing stories of those days. An amusing diversion was a play-reading by members at the women’s institute, under the direction of Mrs. R. Scott. The play, “Keep Calm,” a farce in ono act by Louis Goodrich was well read, the characters being: Jack Grant (Mrs. R. Scott), Mary Grant (Miss W. Amies), Mrs. Primrose (Mrs. W. 31. Churchill), Jane (Mrs. A. N. Morcom), a Plumber (Mrs. C. Davison), a Detective (Miss E. Knight). At the conclusion, at the request of those present, Mrs. Dafter played a duet with Mr. Brady, the instruments being violin and concertina. After two encores had been demanded and given, a memorable evening terminated with the singing of “Auld Lang Syne.’ ’