MAUNGAKARAMEA.

Northern Advocate, 5 June 1912, Page 3

MAUNGAKARAMEA.

(Own Correspondent.)

G.E.S. ,

The Christian Endeavor Society spent a very sociable " evening on Thursday. May 30. There was a large gathering of members of our Endeavor Society and their frends present. MiHarper Gillingham occupied the chair. The evening »vas devoted to songs and recitations, and the efforts of those who assisted io make the evening enjoyable were much appreciated, most of the performers receiving an encore. Annexed is the programme:—Chairman's address, Mrs Clarke* song; Mr Allen Crawford, recitation; Misses Gunson, duet; Miss M. Miller, song; Mr Hopkins, recitation; Misses Crawford, duet,' .Miss Parkes, song; Mr Samuels, whistling solo; Mr H. Cook, song; Mr Ashley Crawford, reading; Miss Parkes, song; Mr Samuels, recitation; Mr H. Cook, song. VALEDICTORY. y The 'Karameans on Firday met together in the hall to bid Mr John Courtney, senr., and family, who are leaving the district, farewell. The assembly was large and representative, testifying to the esteem and respect in which they were held in the district. During the evening songs were rendered by Mrs T. O'Carroll, 'Miss May Miller, and Messrs Codlin and Morrison. After supper Messrs Miller, Wright, and Gunson addressed a few words appropriate to the occasion, and Mr W. Crawford, on behalf of the settlers, presented Mr Courtney | with a silver-mounted walking stick as a. souvenir of old times. Mr Courtney, in a neat speech, thanked Mr Crawford for the gift. The iady members of the Hockey Club also presented the Misses Courtney with a gold brooch each. Miss Snell eulogised the many services rendered by the* Misses Courtney, on behalf of the club andj the district generally. The • presentations of the brooches were eh trusted to the Misses O'Shae and McLennan. The singing of "Auld Lang Syne" brought a very pleasant evening to a close. Mr Courtney, who left the Old Country in 1562 in the ship Indian Empire, has resided in Maungakaramea for 50 years, and belongs to that class of sturdy pioneers who have made New Zealand what she is to-day. Mr Courtney landed in Auckland and came straight to Whangarei—not by the Ngapuhi—in a sailing craft. Thence he came to Maungakaramea, where he took up a piece of land which now forms part of Mr B. Ormandy's property. In 1870 Mr Courtney disposed of this piece of land and took up his lesdence on his present farm, on which he has resided ever since. During his 50 years' residence in Maungakaramea Mr Courtney has not been away from his home more than two months at any one time. He is now in a positon to retire from active life and intends to spend the evening of his life in Whangarei. PERSONAL. Messrs Steele Bros, and Mr and Mrs ' Spratley and - family have taken up ' their residence on their recently pur- ' chased farms. ; The Misses Lamb, who have been ■ spending their holiday with their ; parents, have leturned to Auckland. Mr Lambourne, inspector of schools, | has paid our rchool a visit of inspec- • tion.