CELEBRATION OF A "GOLDEN WEDDING."

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 10838, 23 August 1898, Page 5

CELEBRATION OF A "GOLDEN WEDDING."

* Last evening Mr. and Mrs, F. L. Prime .celebrated their "golden wedding" by a social in the " church parlour" of the PittStreet Wesleyan Church. There were about 80 guests present, among them being many old colonists who had known the worthy couple for over 40 years. Among the clergy were the Revs. H. R. Dewsbury, chairman of the district (who presided), W. J. Williams (pastor of Pitt-street Church), J. H. Simmonds (principal of Three Kings College), W. Gittos (superintendent Wesleyan Maori Missions, Auckland district), W. J. Watkin, A. Peters, E. Best, and Dr. George Brown (general secretary of Australasian Wesleyan Missions). The assemblage sat down to a bountiful tea, set out in the schoolroom, the chairman having Mr. and Mrs. Prime on either side of him. The ceremony of " cutting the bride's cake" was performed by Mrs. Prime. The health of Mr. and Mrs. Prime was proposed by the chairman, and honoured by the company in non-intoxicants. Mr. Prime", on behalf of Mrs. Prime and himself, thanked those present for the enthusiastic way in which the toast had been received, and expressed his gratitude for the kindly sentiments voiced by the chairman. An adjournment was then made to the "church parlour," Miss Elsie Reid playing Mendelssohn's "Wedding March" as the initial item. The Chairman (Rev. H. R. Dewsbury) then, in a neat speech,'said he had great pleasure, on behalf of those assembled, in presenting Mr. and Mrs. Prime with two easy chairs, and hoped they would long dive to use these articles of furniture. Two handsome easy chairs were then wheeled into the room, and the recipients invited to occupy them. Mr. Prime, on behalf of his wife and self, thanked the donors for their useful and handsome gifts, and said they would be interesting souvenirs of the occasion. He then referred to his career in Auckland, in which he arrived in 1855, and to his connection with the Wesleyan Church and the Home Mission fund, to the interests of he had devoted many years of his life. Inree cheers were then given for Mr. and Mrs. Prime. Congratulatory speeches were made by the Rev. W. J. Williams (Mr. Prime's colleague in connection with the Home Mission fund), Mr. R. B Shalders (in whose home the couple spent their first day in the province), Rev. E. Best, who recited an original poem on the " golden wedding," which was well received; Rev. W. Gittos, who sang a Maori waiata expressive of the Maori view of " golden weddings;" Rev. W. J. Watkin, Rev. Dr. George Brown, D.D., Mrs. W. Gittos, Messrs. Thos. Allen, R. Hobbs, J. L. Wilson, Thos. Buddie, J. Edson, and Smerdon. The various speakers testified to Mr. Prime's worth as a citizen, he having filled a number of posts in local bodies (including Mayor of Auckland), and also the splendid service he had rendered his church as treasurer of the Home Mission fund for a long series of years. Many interesting reminiscences of early Auckland Methodism were also given. 'During the evening a beautiful basket of flowers was presented to Mrs. Prime, having been forwarded by Miss Lawry (daughter'of the Rev. H. H. Lawry). It was composed of snowdrops, white camellias, white heather, narcissus, snowflake, ivy leaves,' etc. • The following musical items were also rendered: —" Darby and Joan," " Side by Side' to the Better Land,"' "The Bridge of Love," Miss Elsie Reid: " The Yeoman's Wedding Song," Rev. H. R., Dewsbury. ■ Mrs.' Dewsbury and Miss Reid played the pianoforte accompaniments.